President Moon Jae-in has ordered the government to focus on helping people in Korea cope with the bout of extremely hot weather.<br />Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Monday,... the president stressed the importance of alleviating the burden of expensive electricity bills as well as stripping away unnecessary regulations.<br />Shin Se-min reports. <br /> On day one after his week-long holiday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in got down to business,... taking on some of the important issues the faced by the country.<br />The President ordered officials to look into adjusting the current progressive rate billing system for electricity.<br /><br /> "For the months of July and August, the government should quickly look into temporarily cutting electricity bills for low-income households and expanding that discount to social welfare facilities so that the benefit is reflected starting with bills for July."<br /><br /> While noting that the country has a safe level of electricity reserves, the President also called for a comprehensive response to the extreme heat, which he likened to a natural disaster.<br />He said, as something directly related to the public welfare, the Korean people ought to be able to turn on the air-conditioning.<br /> Also, to improve the people's livelihoods, the President urged the elimination of unnecessary government regulations,… saying that they hamper economic revitalization as well as job growth.<br /><br /> "We must at least be able to give hope to the people that the economy will get better. I ask all economic teams and the government to do more to reduce concerns over the economic slowdown and to revitalize our economy."<br /><br /> Then he ordered the government to drastically raise spending on new infrastructure projects like libraries and education facilities,… which are closely related to the public welfare and new jobs.<br /><br /> "Also, on the first day back at the big desk, President Moon named six new presidential secretaries, including some for newly created positions… who will be assisting the President with economy-related affairs.<br />This,… again,… raising the importance of growing public concerns about the country's slowing economy and next year's scheduled minimum wage hike.<br />Shin Se-min, Arirang News." <br />
