President Moon Jae-in has ordered the government to focus on helping people in Korea cope with the bout of extremely hot weather.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Monday,... the president stressed the importance of alleviating the burden of expensive electricity bills as well as stripping away unnecessary regulations.
Shin Se-min reports.
On day one after his week-long holiday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in got down to business,... taking on some of the important issues the faced by the country.
The President ordered officials to look into adjusting the current progressive rate billing system for electricity.

"For the months of July and August, the government should quickly look into temporarily cutting electricity bills for low-income households and expanding that discount to social welfare facilities so that the benefit is reflected starting with bills for July."

While noting that the country has a safe level of electricity reserves, the President also called for a comprehensive response to the extreme heat, which he likened to a natural disaster.
He said, as something directly related to the public welfare, the Korean people ought to be able to turn on the air-conditioning.
Also, to improve the people's livelihoods, the President urged the elimination of unnecessary government regulations,… saying that they hamper economic revitalization as well as job growth.

"We must at least be able to give hope to the people that the economy will get better. I ask all economic teams and the government to do more to reduce concerns over the economic slowdown and to revitalize our economy."

Then he ordered the government to drastically raise spending on new infrastructure projects like libraries and education facilities,… which are closely related to the public welfare and new jobs.

"Also, on the first day back at the big desk, President Moon named six new presidential secretaries, including some for newly created positions… who will be assisting the President with economy-related affairs.
This,… again,… raising the importance of growing public concerns about the country's slowing economy and next year's scheduled minimum wage hike.
Shin Se-min, Arirang News."