In the first meeting with her senior aides Wednesday, President Park ordered senior secretaries to come up with ways to minimize the factors that cause consumer prices to rise.
President Park stressed that the related ministries should put more effort into stabilizing prices, by penalizing companies that raise prices unfairly.
Political pundits say her remarks were aimed at reassuring the public that there will be no stoppage in the new government's administrative affairs, even though her Cabinet is not yet formed.
President Park also asked her senior aides to devise a plan for securing the funds that will be needed to fulfill her election pledges, but made it clear that tax hikes are off the table.


"The money should first come from reductions in unnecessary spending and the exposure of the country's massive underground economy."

President Park also called on the opposition parties to quickly pass a bill that would restructure the government.


"I am deeply concerned that the person who should by in charge of the government's national security control tower is not here, especially at a time when North Korea poses a severe threat to Seoul, because the bill to restructure the government has not passed the National Assembly yet."

The president was referring to National Security Office Chief Nominee Kim Jang-soo who was unable to attend the meeting, because the bill, which includes plans to create a national security office within the office of the president as well as ministries in charge of creative science and maritime affairs, has yet to win parliamentary approval.


"President Park will convene meetings with her senior secretaries once a week from now on. However, the presidential office says it's highly likely that the Cabinet meeting, which won't be held in her first week in office, won't be held NEXT week either.

Eoh Jin-joo, Arirang News."

Reporter : jjeoh@arirang.co.kr