We start at the National Assembly.
President Moon Jae-in urged lawmakers this morning to support his government's 2019 budget bill.
For more on the president's speech, we connect live to our correspondent at the top office,... Shin Se-min...
Se-min this speech comes at an important time in the country...
It certainly does. This was President Moon's third budget speech at the National Assembly since taking office in May last year,... and like you mentioned this morning's address comes at a critical time.
Most of South Korea's economic indicators have been going south in recent months-- depressing jobs figures, a plummeting stock market, and a dim outlook on overall economic growth for this year and the next.
With those problems at the forefront of his mind,... President Moon Jae-in addressed a full parliament to call for bipartisan approval of the government's expansionary budget for 2019,... worth some 412 billion U.S. dollars.
That's up 9-point-7 percent from this year,.... and the biggest increase since 2009.
With the economic crisis facing the nation, the president stressed it's important to tackle economic and social polarization,... the basis of the government's push to change the nation's economic fundamentals.
And he said it will take time-- let's listen to his words.
"Issues like slow economic growth, growth without employment, polarization and inequality, low birthrate-aging society and a change in industrial structure are difficult to resolve in a short period of time. It will take time to change and enjoy the fruits of changing the fundamental structure of our economy.
The president also called for upgrading welfare program to realize his vision of an 'inclusive society,' and added that South Korea should be a nation where people can be at ease within the boundaries of social safety nets and welfare programs.
He added South Korea should be a place of fair opportunities and an equal chance to succeed.
And Se-min,... before we let you go,... President Moon also brought up North Korea during his speech,.. despite not emphasizing it much lately.
Right,... unlike his previous budget or supplementary budget speeches at the National Assembly... this focused mainly on the economy because of the disappointing data coming out.
But he did mention his efforts to achieve peace toward the end of his speech.
He called for the assembly's support for his peace drive with North Korea,... saying the progress being made is (quote) "an opportunity that came like a miracle." and the one that should not be missed.
Jiyoon?
