Business leaders urge people to focus on economic revival

SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- The heads of South Korea's five business organizations
urged people Thursday to put together their resources to help the economy grow
again amid heightened tensions over North Korea's nuclear test and street
protests over the suicide of former President Roh Moo-hyun.
They also expressed concerns over a nationwide strike by unionized truck drivers,
which would probably disrupt shipments from seaports.
"We have no choice but to express our grave concern as the negative impact on the
economy is spreading amid North Korea's nuclear test, strikes and social unrest"
over the death of Roh, the five groups said in a joint statement.
"A road to economic recovery is still far ahead. So, it's time for people to join
forces for economic revival," the statement said.
The five business groups include the Federation of Korean Industries, the Korean
Employers' Federation and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The government of President Lee Myung-bak is facing a double crisis: the North's
nuclear defiance and the suicide of Roh.
Recently, a growing number of college students and their professors have called
for Lee to apologize for allegedly pushing a politically motivated bribery probe
into Roh.
Roh, president from 2003-2008, jumped to his death from a cliff near his
retirement home in the country's southeast May 23, apparently under pressure as a
months-long corruption investigation was closing in on him and his family. His
suicide sparked an outpouring of public sympathy.
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