Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn has urged government agencies to place their top priority this year on creating jobs.

The remark came after he received 2017 policy briefings from the Finance, Trade and Transportation ministries as well as the Fair Trade Commission and the Financial Services Commission on Thursday.
 
He instructed the agencies to comprehensively review and improve existing regulations, stressing that enhancing investment conditions through regulatory reform is the short cut to expanding jobs.
 
Hwang also called for more support for youths who start their own businesses and encouragement to help them make inroads overseas as they open new job opportunities.
 
On reviving exports, he said stronger efforts need to be exerted to tackle global uncertainties by establishing reciprocal economic and trade ties with the incoming U.S. government and through multilateral consultative bodies such as the Group of 20 nations and APEC.