South Korean president and top business leaders discuss job creation=

대통령, 기업인 "호프 간담회" 첫째 날, 일자리 창출•비정규직 논의
President Moon Jae-in's first meeting with the heads of the country's biggest companies went on for much longer than anticipated on Thursday evening.
It was the first of a two-day long "Beer Meeting between the President and Business Leaders." Our chief Blue House correspondent Moon Connyoung has the details.


A group of men in shirtsleeves, enjoying a glass of cold beer after work...
would well describe this scene... except these aren't just "men"... they are the South
Korean president and leaders of the country's largest multinational corporations.
And, this is a patio in the nation's presidential Blue House.


"There is no other task more important than reviving the economy so, I hope you understand this meeting as the government's efforts to achieving such goal.
I wanted to have a relaxed and candid discussion with you so, there is no script, no particular topic, no time limit."
.

The routine president, business leaders' meeting took place in the most non routine way possible... with President Moon Jae-in pouring beer on tap for seven heads of largest firms and on one mid-sized food producer on special invite by the top office.

But, don't let the casual setting fool you; the topics discussed were hardcore and concerns raised... very real... and corporate leaders weren't shy to seek answers in their first tete-a-tete with the new president.


"You must be worried about your steel exports to the U.S. these days."
?

He was referring to the U.S.' new anti-dumping measures on Korean steel.


"Honestly speaking, Sir, we've given up on shipping to the U.S. for a while. We're planning to focus on longer-term measures instead to counter the problem."
. .


"Vice chairman of Hyundai Motor said the automaker's subcontractors need more support as they face growing difficulties on falling sales hit by China's economic retaliatory measures over THAAD deployment."
“ . .

Also requested by the business executives were deregulation measures in sectors related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and alternative energy development.

They also didn't come empty-handed.
The invitees came with new strategies that support the Moon administration's key economic policy goals... including job creation initiatives, plans to hire irregular, contract workers as full-time, regular employees and measures to foster mutually beneficial cooperation with smaller firms.


"Riding on the momentum, President Moon Jae-in will meet with the second half of the nation's 15 largest businesses Friday evening. Whether that session will also bring about another bundle of gift packages for the Moon administration remain to be seen.
Moon Connyoung, Arirang News, the Blue House."

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