[현장생중계]President Moon Jae-in’s 2021 New Year Press Conference ③

[문재인 대통령]

Reporter No. 5.

[기자]

This is Haesoo Bae from OBS. I just came up with a vaccine-related question, so I will ask one question first and then my question. First of all, I will ask if the President would like to get vaccination first in order to relieve the anxiety of vaccination.

Regarding the disaster subsidy, Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myeong is working on a plan to pay 100,000 won per person to all Gyeonggi residents. Whether or not the 4th disaster subsidy is paid and whether it is universal or selective, there is a lot of controversy, but Gyeonggi-do seems to be leading the way in the general payment method this year after the first period last year.

In this case, it seems that the extent of luck in the government’s decision on the payment method will inevitably decrease. I wonder how the President sees the phenomenon that local governments lead or lead the government’s major policies.

[문재인 대통령]

First of all, some of you were talking about your anxiety about vaccines, but Korea is a country with a very high flu vaccine coverage, globally. So I think that the Korean people trust the quarantine authorities for the corona vaccine, and I think many people will be vaccinated. I am still thinking that we will avoid vaccination because of anxiety about the vaccine in Korea.

So, if there is no setback in vaccination, I don’t think the president and other public officials need to be a priority, except for public officials engaged in quarantine. I think it would be enough to vaccinate those who have priorities first and then vaccinate them with the general public later.

However, if the anxiety about the vaccine is really high and it becomes a situation to avoid the vaccine, and in that way, something needs an example, I will not avoid it either.

I don’t think that the disaster subsidy is universal or selective. I think it is a matter of choosing the most appropriate method according to the economic situation at the time. In our case, the first disaster subsidy was, so to speak, reduced administrative time required for screening, paid as quickly as possible, and provided universal support for the purpose of comforting the people.

However, the 2nd and 3rd disaster subsidies are now able to generally select the victims, and the second and third disaster subsidies are mainly affected by the fact that it does not take much administrative time to screen. It was tailored to each class and focused on selective support. I think that is a more appropriate way to provide thick support to those who suffer a lot from limited resources.

I don’t think the 4th disaster subsidy is actually the time to discuss. Currently, the third disaster subsidy is being paid, and if the fourth disaster subsidy is paid after that, it is inevitably added as an additional supplement and there is no choice but to issue government bonds, but the current budget for 2021 is also at this stage when execution has just begun. I think it’s really too early to talk about the 4th disaster subsidies provided through the supplementary administration.

The damages of small business owners, self-employed people, and then those who are underemployed by the third epidemic are much larger and prolonged compared to the past 1st and 2nd epidemic, so if the 3rd disaster support fund is insufficient, then go to the 4th disaster support fund. I think we should discuss it.

In addition, I think the 4th disaster support fund also differs depending on the quarantine situation at the time. If the situation where quarantine is difficult continues, and the situation where small business owners and self-employed people continue to be damaged, I think that the 4th disaster subsidy is of course the right form of selective support to support them more and more.

Not that, but now that the corona situation has completely calmed down, I can think of a universal subsidy at that time if it becomes a situation where it can be said to provide a disaster subsidy in order to boost consumption or, speaking to the people who have struggled for a long time, to boost morale. Do it. It’s different depending on the situation at that time, and that’s right, that’s right, so to speak, it’s not a problem that can draw a line.

In addition, there are many cases where the government’s disaster support alone is not sufficient. In such a case, it is considered that it is also possible for local governments to provide such supplementary disaster support at the local level.

Reporter 101.

[기자]

This is Donghyung Kim from AP Communications. It is clear that North Korea will further expand its nuclear and conventional military power through this party representative, and it is becoming clear that there is no intention to completely abandon its nuclear weapons in any case. And in line with the inauguration of the Biden administration, if there are any areas where the Korean government is also considering a change of direction, please tell us in detail.

[문재인 대통령]

I believe that biden’s launch of the new administration of the United States has provided such an opportunity to start a new dialogue between the North and the North. And in that case, I think the dialogue should continue and develop the achievements achieved by the Trump administration.

The declaration of Singapore by the Trump administration was very important for denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Of course, it is very regrettable that it was only a principled declaration, and it was not possible to reach a more specific agreement after that. If you start again with the Singapore Declaration and negotiate such a dialogue and negotiations, I think we will be able to conduct inter-Korean dialogue.

I think that the part that North Korea will augment various nuclear weapons or add various weapons systems eventually came out of a situation where such talks on denuclearization and peace building have not yet been concluded. If the dialogue for the establishment of a peace regime, including denuclearization, is successfully concluded, I think that is a problem that can be resolved together.

Of course, you can’t just wait while vaguely staring at success you don’t know when it will happen. The ROK-US intelligence authorities are always closely analyzing the areas where North Korea’s weapons system is being reinforced. And against that, we, Korea, have such a nuclear or missile defense system that can sufficiently defend. If there is something missing, we will constantly make up for it.

Reporter No. 30, please.

[기자]

Good morning? This is Hankyoreh Seo Young-ji. You mentioned earlier that the real estate supply has increased compared to the previous government, but in fact, supply measures are only being announced recently. Some point out that there was a lack of such measures in the early days of the regime, and that if it had been built at that time, the supply would have increased now.

[문재인 대통령]

Real estate supply doesn’t happen overnight. Real estate supply is made in a medium and long term plan. As you may know, Korea has been in a very low fertility state for a long time, and the number of young people is declining, but nevertheless, as young people grow, the number of households increases. In line with this trend of increasing the number of households, the government establishes a real estate supply plan. So, if we compare, of course, it is not established by our government, but a plan established before our government. It is designed this way, much more than the time.

And in terms of the additional quantity required for that, the Korean government also prepared such measures to supply 1.27 million units to the metropolitan area, such as the 3rd new city, so to speak, it was judged that it would be some degree in terms of supply.

As I mentioned earlier, in the case of last year, a whopping 610,000 generations increased. Compared to the previous year in 2019, 180,000 generations have increased. In 2019, compared to 2018, only 20,000 generations increased. Despite the fact that the number of households increased so much in 2020, the number of households increased in spite of the decline in the population in 2020, and then, despite the long continuing low fertility condition, the reason for the increase in the number of households needs to be analyzed in the future.

Anyway, if the number of households increases, of course, it does not mean that all of them have to be purchased or rented, but as the number of households increased, the demand for houses would have increased.

Because the demand for this housing has increased to an unpredictable degree, the government now regards that point as a need for such an urgent supply measure that can sufficiently respond to the demand, and for this urgent measure, it is more innovative than the existing procedures and all of these. And think that drastic measures and creative measures are necessary.

And I would like to say once again that the preparations are being made and that it is planned to be announced before the Lunar New Year.

Reporter #2, didn’t you do it before?

[기자]

Hello? News 1 This is Gyowoon Koo. Happy New Year. I have pointed out that when Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol had a conflict, the President did not speak out or did not move as the personnel authority. Even considering that President Yoon Suk-yeol’s term of office was legally guaranteed, the president could have used his political power to solve the problem smoothly.
There was also a point. In this regard, I would like to ask what your position is.

[문재인 대통령] Well, if it was in the past, as if there was no conflict through the prosecution’s senior, the Justice Minister, and the prosecution senior, the Min Jeong-suk, if necessary, I can and do not know if it can be done. I hope you don’t think those times were better.

Now, the prosecution is in a position where the tenure system of the prosecutor general is guaranteed and political neutrality is guaranteed.After that, the Ministry of Justice is separated from the prosecution and encourages the prosecution to properly reform.

And even if conflict sometimes arises in such a situation, I don’t think it’s something special in a democratic country. Rather, I think that our democracy is developing healthily.

Some say that the term system of the prosecutor general and the disciplinary action against the prosecutor general are in conflict with each other, but I think that is entirely wrong. If there is no term of office for the prosecutor general, there is no need for discipline against the prosecutor general. Anytime you don’t like it, you just have to quit. Since the prosecutor general’s tenure system is guaranteed, the prosecutor general is institutionalized so that he can hold something accountable only through dismissal or disciplinary action. So, the prosecutor general’s term system and the disciplinary action against the prosecutor general seem to be in a complementary relationship.

Regarding the disciplinary action of the Minister of Justice against the Prosecutor General, the judiciary will make a decision to suspend enforcement and determine the appropriateness of the disciplinary action in the main bill. I think it shows. From the point of view that quiet things were just good, the current conflict may seem noisy and uncomfortable.

However, I don’t think it’s a problem to see only from that point of view, and that means that even those parts of the Justice Minister and the Attorney General at that time seemed like a personal emotional fight. I don’t think so. I think there is definitely something to reflect on that part.

However, this conflict can sometimes arise between the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General or between the Prosecutors and the Prosecutor’s Office to check the power of the prosecutors’ office, or to control the civilian population.

Reporter 96.

[기자]

Good morning. Media Today, this is Jimin No. I got a chance to ask questions at home like this. There aren’t many opportunities to see the President, so it seems that questions come out regardless of field.
Recently, you haven’t communicated a lot, and you’re showing signs of disagreement. I’m curious about what you think, and if you have any plans to increase media contact. In addition, I am curious about your plans or thoughts on improving the governance structure of public broadcasting that you promised earlier.

[문재인 대통령]

I think you will understand that communication with reporters such as press conferences has been difficult for the past year due to the corona situation. Not only that, there were many discussions at the Chunchugwan in the meantime, such as a press conference, inviting reporters to Nokjiwon, or I visited the Chunchugwan, but each time the quarantine situation was not good, so we delayed that part. I think you know what happened and what happened.

In addition, I do not think that press conferences are necessarily the only communication with the people. It’s a way of communication. I have visited the field more than any other president, and there have been many cases in which, even though they are a small group of citizens, they exchanged two-way conversations with each other. I think we have been making efforts to communicate with the people in various ways.

However, if the public feels that communication has been insufficient due to the recent coronavirus situation, as the gap between the times has widened for a long time, I would like to say that I will make more efforts to increase communication in the future. I am hoping that the conditions will probably get better in the future.

Reporter 89, please.

[기자]

Hello? President Moon Jae-in, wish you a happy new year. This is the reporter Jang-hee Han of Bridge Economy. When the President announced his New Year’s address last week, he expressed his intention to expand the housing supply. Experts are also positively evaluating this.

However, it is said that the gap between reality and understanding is too much for all the homeless and beneficial owners who need to build a home by increasing the supply to have the dream of preparing a home. That’s why lending regulations are being picked up.

I understand that it includes a large amount of housing supply expansion, which the President answered in the first question, and pre-subscription for the 3rd new town this year. However, even in these regions, even if they win the subscription, considering LTV and DTI, considering the surrounding market prices, it seems that it is possible to have the hope of arranging a home only if there is a minimum equity capital of 300 to 400 million. Even if you are a double-income couple in their 30s and 40s, the reality seems that it is not easy to raise a capital of 300 to 400 million without the help of their parents.

[문재인 대통령]

If you get into that very specific and specialized part, it’s a bit difficult for me to answer. Also, I don’t think it’s desirable that the president seems to be giving instructions.

What I said right now is that there are a lot of people who want to build my own home, but since it is difficult to buy a house, so the supply of housing is insufficient. How can I increase the insufficient supply of housing as soon as possible? I am going to announce it to the public.

On the other hand, I think that it will be difficult to find another charter when the spring season comes, and there will also be such anxiety.

In preparation for that, we have already announced the jeonse plan last year, but again, since there may be a shortage of jeonse items, the housing supply measures to be announced now include such measures to rapidly increase the amount of jeonse. After seeing the announcement of the countermeasure, if there is a lack of it, I would like you to ask again.

[사회자]

President, the time has been delayed a lot. I hope you move on to diplomatic and security.

[문재인 대통령]

Then, in foreign media, reporter No. 16 and CNN reporter.

[기자]

Thank you. Hello? President, I am Paula Hancox, CNN’s director. In his New Year’s address, the President said he would personally make an effort so that the North American talks could resume.

In a few days, the new administration of Biden will be launched. However, in the case of the new Biden administration, it faces a variety of domestic issues, including corona response. Also, when it comes to diplomatic and security issues, Iran is also facing the challenge of responding to climate change. Therefore, there is a possibility that the North Korean issue will not be a priority.

Specifically, I would like to ask what kind of efforts the President is planning to make so that the North Korean nuclear issue becomes a priority.

[문재인 대통령]

First of all, I would like to reaffirm the consensus on the issue of the Korean Peninsula and the peace process, as well as building trust and ties between the two leaders by establishing exchanges between the two leaders as early as possible.

Furthermore, since there are many issues that can be cooperated between the US and the ROK in addition to those issues, we would like to expand cooperation in that area. I think there are a lot of similarities with the Korean government in terms of the values ​​of the new biden administration, the principle of multilateralism, the principle of alliance, and the code fits in some ways.

It is true that the Biden administration has a lot of other problems, and it may take a little while to go on a full-fledged diplomatic move because of the corona situation. I don’t think I’ll put it off. I think the Biden administration will share the same recognition that the achievements made during the Trump administration have been consistent and the results are necessary.

Not only that, some people are concerned that it will take time for the Biden administration to set the direction of foreign policy, but first of all, President Biden himself served as the chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the Senate and was in charge of diplomacy as Vice President. He’s an expert in Korea. I am well aware of the inter-Korean issues as well as supporting the Sunshine Policy of President Kim Dae-jung in the past. Those who form the security line of Biden’s administration this time are also those who are generally well versed in the Korean peninsula and agree with the way of solving the problem through dialogue.

I believe that the North Korean issue may still have a priority in the foreign policy of the US Biden government, and I will cooperate with the United States by strengthening exchanges with the United States in order to do so.