So, let me take this opportunity to voice my sincere thanks to you all. And I hope that today’s meeting, although all too brief, will help you gain a clearer understanding of the Korean economy today and the thrust of monetary policy in the future.
II - Recent Economic Trends in Korea Real Economy First, let us look at the recent performance of the Korean economy. As you know, we have been going through serious hardships. Domestic demand in terms of both consumption and investment has been deeply depressed by the shock of the currency crisis and the effects of structural adjustment.