Gov't to launch policy coordination body

SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The Cabinet and the presidential office will launch a joint consultative body to better coordinate government policies as the Park Geun-hye administration enters its third year in office, officials said Sunday.

The new body will be comprised of the two deputy prime ministers, each in charge of economic and social affairs, respectively; the minister for government policy coordination; the three respective senior presidential secretaries for policy coordination, public relations and economic affairs; and any other minister or secretary relevant to the issue at hand, the government said in press briefings held at the presidential office and the main government complex.

The decision came at an emergency meeting of the officials amid public backlash over the government's revised tax settlement scheme and suspension of plans to revamp the national health insurance system.

Amid the controversy, President Park's approval rating fell to 29 percent last week, her lowest since taking office in February 2013, according to polling agency Gallup Korea.

The joint body is designed to ensure that all government policies are smoothly coordinated from the initial stages of their formation to their execution, modification and announcement, Hyun Jung-taik, the senior presidential secretary for policy coordination, said.

The presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, will also launch a separate consultative body comprised of eight senior secretaries to monitor and strengthen policy implementation through weekly meetings, Hyun said.

Choo Kyung-ho, the minister for government policy coordination, told reporters at the government complex that the government will push to fulfill its three-year economic innovation plan, overhaul civil service pensions and carry out reforms in the public sector, labor, finance and education.

hague@yna.co.kr
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