South Korea's new finance minister has revealed the government will frontload more than 60 percent of the central government's 2019 budget in the first half of the year.<br />Speaking at an economy-related ministers' meeting on Friday, Hong Nam-ki said the government will spend 157 billion U.S. dollars in H1 to improve people's livelihoods, create new jobs and boost social infrastructure. <br />He added the government will announce its draft plan on overhauling the way the minimum wage is decided by next week.<br />That's so it can be in place before the rate for next year is set.<br />The minister vowed last month to moderate the pace of wage increases in the face of a growing backlash over the double digit hikes in 2018 and 2019. <br />
