ID :
23643
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 15:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23643
The shortlink copeid
Lee to give U.S.-style weekly radio address
SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak is planning to give a U.S.-style radio address on Monday to call for national cooperation and unity in overcoming the global financial market crisis, officials at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday.
"The government's major policies and visions have not been properly conveyed to
the public, giving rise to public misunderstanding in many cases. The president
will seek direct contact with the people through a radio address to better
promote his key policies and ask for their support," said a ranking Cheong Wa Dae
official.
"In his first radio address, Lee will speak mainly on the financial market
crisis, stressing his government will do its best to weather the looming economic
crisis," said the official, asking to remain anonymous.
President Lee has repeatedly asked the nation to react calmly to the global
financial turmoil, stressing that South Korea is equipped with foreign currency
reserves worth US$260 billion and will not be left vulnerable to a foreign
exchange crisis.
The official said Cheong Wa Dae will push to make presidential radio addresses a
weekly occurrence, if the first one begins on Monday as planned.
"The president's first radio address will likely air for about 10 minutes on
Monday morning during rush hour, between 7:30 and 8, and local radio stations
will voluntarily choose whether to broadcast the speech," he said, adding the
program is tentatively titled "Good morning, this is your President."
"Any politically sensitive contents will be barred from the presidential address.
We have concluded that many people are anxious to directly hear from the
president at an economically difficult time, like this."
The U.S. president's weekly radio address dates back to the Great Depression of
the 1930s, when then President Franklin Roosevelt went on air to appeal for
public support for his New Deal policies.
As expected, all opposition parties raised concern about the planned presidential
radio address, saying the broadcast could be abused by Lee as a means to
unilaterally promote his policies.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
"The government's major policies and visions have not been properly conveyed to
the public, giving rise to public misunderstanding in many cases. The president
will seek direct contact with the people through a radio address to better
promote his key policies and ask for their support," said a ranking Cheong Wa Dae
official.
"In his first radio address, Lee will speak mainly on the financial market
crisis, stressing his government will do its best to weather the looming economic
crisis," said the official, asking to remain anonymous.
President Lee has repeatedly asked the nation to react calmly to the global
financial turmoil, stressing that South Korea is equipped with foreign currency
reserves worth US$260 billion and will not be left vulnerable to a foreign
exchange crisis.
The official said Cheong Wa Dae will push to make presidential radio addresses a
weekly occurrence, if the first one begins on Monday as planned.
"The president's first radio address will likely air for about 10 minutes on
Monday morning during rush hour, between 7:30 and 8, and local radio stations
will voluntarily choose whether to broadcast the speech," he said, adding the
program is tentatively titled "Good morning, this is your President."
"Any politically sensitive contents will be barred from the presidential address.
We have concluded that many people are anxious to directly hear from the
president at an economically difficult time, like this."
The U.S. president's weekly radio address dates back to the Great Depression of
the 1930s, when then President Franklin Roosevelt went on air to appeal for
public support for his New Deal policies.
As expected, all opposition parties raised concern about the planned presidential
radio address, saying the broadcast could be abused by Lee as a means to
unilaterally promote his policies.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
