President Seok-Yeol Yoon asked the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Environment today (3rd), "Think of it as a ministry of people's livelihood, not a regulatory agency, and work based on expertise and science."
"Past governments recognized real estate and environmental issues as issues of politics and ideology," said President Yoon at the New Year's Work Report of the two ministries held this afternoon at the Blue House guesthouse.
It is interpreted as a remark aimed at the former Moon Jae-in administration, where real estate prices skyrocketed.
Regarding the real estate policy of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, President Yoon emphasized that "only a certain amount of management is needed so that house prices can rise and fall predictably."
However, in preparation for signs of a hard landing in the real estate market coupled with the recent rise in interest rates, he said, "Demand-side regulations will have to be lifted boldly and with a sense of speed."
He ordered damage recovery, legal assistance, and strong punishment for large-scale jeonse fraud cases, saying, "Please consider a plan for government public institutions to purchase or rent unsold houses and rent them back to the vulnerable."
Regarding the construction of the GTX, President Yoon also said, "GTX-A line, the Suseo-Dongtan section should be opened early next year, and B line construction should begin early next year." I hope you will move forward quickly."
He continued, "I think we need to quickly enter into a preliminary feasibility study for the D, E, and F routes."
President Yoon ordered the Ministry of Environment to "industrialize and market this field so that regulations can be solved with technology."
Recalling the instructions during the heavy rain last summer, he said, "I asked you to quickly make water management into an AI (artificial intelligence) system, and please finish it so that the water system management and research system can operate properly within this year."
Regarding nuclear power, he said, “(Nuclear power) is an energy that contributes to carbon neutrality,” and “Please cooperate well with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to restore the nuclear power plant ecosystem with a sense of speed.”
At the same time, he said, "Please promote a carbon-neutral policy that can be implemented," and asked for major innovation in related regulations for Korean companies to pioneer the global market.
Regarding the environmental impact assessment, President Yoon said, “It must be based on science,” and “Please rationalize regulations in areas where we have to compete in the global market, such as semiconductors and biotechnology, to meet global standards.”
President Yoon added that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Environment "think that the two ministries are the Ministry of Industry and actively cooperate in our exports and overseas orders."
(Photo = Presidential Office Photo Reporters, Yonhap News)