Lee calls for efforts to improve lives of ordinary citizens

SEOUL, July 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak Thursday called for increased
efforts by the government and religious circles to help improve the livelihood of
ordinary citizens hard hit by the global economic crisis and with little hope of
benefiting from an economic recovery.

"The government plans to give top priority to reducing difficulties for ordinary
citizens during such an unprecedented economic crisis," the president said in a
meeting with Cardinal Nicolas Cheong Jin-suk, according to Lee's presidential
office Cheong Wa Dae.
"I fully agree with what the president believes," the cardinal was quoted as
saying. Cheong became the country's only cardinal after Cardinal Stephen Kim
Sou-hwan died in March.
Lee expressed gratitude to the Catholic Church, noting it has always worked to
look after the least privileged, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said.
The president also called on businesses to do more to help improve economic
conditions facing ordinary citizens by increasing investments and creating jobs.
He said businesses, too, have a certain social responsibility they must meet.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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