S. Korea hires private firm to promote polices

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has hired a private agency to promote
major government polices abroad in a bid to avoid miscommunication and "biased
reports" about the economy, officials said Thursday.

The Finance Ministry, the Bank of Korea and the Financial Services Commission
recently signed a three-month contract with News Communications under which it
will provide a weekly English-language report on its plans and other information
to foreign media.
This is the first time Korea's central government has commissioned a private
agency to handle policy promotion.
The government has recently voiced complaints that some overseas reports
contained "incorrect" information and "biased views" of South Korea's economy
amid growing concerns over global financial turmoil.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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