By Kim Min-Jeung 

In Cheong Wa Dae’s weekly meeting on July 23, President Moon Jae-in said that, "The government will take the lead in social dialogue aimed at promoting economic vitality," referring to new economic measures planned for the second half of the year. 

The president said that he will focus on economic reconstruction and vitality measures in the latter half of the year. He said he will put a lot of effort into solving any problems revealed during the process and supplementing political blind spots. 

President Moon also said that he will actively cope with the fact that people in Korea work the third-longest hours among the member states of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and care for socially disadvantaged people. He said that he will take bold action through regulatory reform and accelerate innovative growth by holding meetings every month. The president also vowed to engage in active communication with small business owners and the self-employed, meeting them in person and listening to what they have to say. 

He stressed that, “Once a people-focused economy lays down its roots, the benefits will bring forth inclusive growth. This, plus economic vitality, will enable sustainable development of the Korean economy.” 

The president said that since the economic system does not change in a day, “The government will focus on building a firm base in the long run.” 

Finally, President Moon added that he would like to stress the issue of the self-employed in particular, by “creating anew a secretary in charge of self-employed affairs and listening directly to voices on the ground." 

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