We start at the National Assembly.<br />President Moon Jae-in urged lawmakers this morning to support his government's 2019 budget bill.<br />For more on the president's speech, we connect live to our correspondent at the top office,... Shin Se-min... <br />Se-min this speech comes at an important time in the country...<br /><br />It certainly does. This was President Moon's third budget speech at the National Assembly since taking office in May last year,... and like you mentioned this morning's address comes at a critical time. <br />Most of South Korea's economic indicators have been going south in recent months-- depressing jobs figures, a plummeting stock market, and a dim outlook on overall economic growth for this year and the next. <br />With those problems at the forefront of his mind,... President Moon Jae-in addressed a full parliament to call for bipartisan approval of the government's expansionary budget for 2019,... worth some 412 billion U.S. dollars.<br />That's up 9-point-7 percent from this year,.... and the biggest increase since 2009. <br />With the economic crisis facing the nation, the president stressed it's important to tackle economic and social polarization,... the basis of the government's push to change the nation's economic fundamentals.<br />And he said it will take time-- let's listen to his words.<br /><br />"Issues like slow economic growth, growth without employment, polarization and inequality, low birthrate-aging society and a change in industrial structure are difficult to resolve in a short period of time. It will take time to change and enjoy the fruits of changing the fundamental structure of our economy.<br /><br />The president also called for upgrading welfare program to realize his vision of an 'inclusive society,' and added that South Korea should be a nation where people can be at ease within the boundaries of social safety nets and welfare programs. <br />He added South Korea should be a place of fair opportunities and an equal chance to succeed.<br /><br />And Se-min,... before we let you go,... President Moon also brought up North Korea during his speech,.. despite not emphasizing it much lately.<br /><br />Right,... unlike his previous budget or supplementary budget speeches at the National Assembly... this focused mainly on the economy because of the disappointing data coming out.<br />But he did mention his efforts to achieve peace toward the end of his speech. <br />He called for the assembly's support for his peace drive with North Korea,... saying the progress being made is (quote) "an opportunity that came like a miracle." and the one that should not be missed. <br />Jiyoon?<br />
