Koo Yun-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister for the economy and Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said, "We will make 2026 the first year marking a rebound in the potential growth rate."
Deputy Prime Minister Koo said in a New Year's address on Dec. 31, "We will boldly change what requires reform and unconventional thinking and put it into action," and stated accordingly. He added, "We will do everything we can so that the public can greet a better tomorrow and plan a brighter year."
Koo cited macroeconomic management and restoring the livelihood economy as the top priorities for this year's main policy direction.
Deputy Prime Minister Koo said, "While managing prices stably, we will focus on restoring livelihoods and revitalizing the national and regional economies, including improving consumer sentiment and invigorating investment," and added, "We will ensure that the public can feel the effects of policy in their daily lives." He also noted that tasks to overcome polarization, such as promoting the growth of small and midsize enterprises and small business owners and supporting vulnerable groups, will be addressed together.
He also emphasized responding to the era of an artificial intelligence (AI) great transition. He said, "We will prepare well so that we can establish ourselves as a world-leading country in areas such as physical AI and as the hub of a new AI civilization in the Asia-Pacific," and added, "We will steadfastly pursue nurturing national strategic industries, achieving productive finance, active national wealth creation, and bold fiscal innovation."
Deputy Prime Minister Koo said, "Now is a grave moment when we must read and adapt to changes in world history with a resolve that could decide life or death," adding, "It is time to demonstrate the wisdom of a 'new survival of the fittest,' which holds that we can survive only when we adapt to change proactively and independently."