Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik said Monday the government will strive for “the fairest elections ever” this year, while seeking to maintain the economic vitality and stabilize the lives of the people.

South Korea heads into its biggest election season in two decades this year as it prepares to select a new parliament and a new president. The general elections take place in April to change the 299-member unicameral National Assembly, and a presidential vote in December will select a successor to President Lee Myung-bak, who is barred from seeking re-election by law.

“It is the first time in two decades that the nation will hold two major polls in the same year. We have to deal with the elections with strict fairness to make them the fairest ever,” Kim said during the government’s kick-off meeting for the new year.

“We have to guard against possible social conflicts and populist policies arising from overheated elections, which would disrupt the national affairs,” Kim added.

He also stressed the importance of “maintaining the vitality of our economy amid the global economic downturn, which is key to creating jobs and bringing stability to the lives of the people,” adding that job creation is one of the best welfare policies.

To achieve the goal, the government will push to front-load its budget spending for this year and eradicate obstacles to corporate investment, Kim added.

Facing the leadership change in North Korea, Kim also called for reinforcing the nation’s security posture with close cooperation with neighboring countries.

“While we need to pay close attention to the North Korean situation and seek desirable inter-Korean relations, history tells us that peace cannot exist without security,” Kim said.

North Korea has stepped up efforts to consolidate the power of its new leader Kim Jong-un, the son of the late iron-fisted ruler Kim Jong-il, who died last month. 

(Yonhap News)