Korea Tumbles to 24th in Int’l Competitiveness It's Official: the Government's Reforms Have Failed Korea's Total Area Would Buy Two Canadas Price of Land on Dokdo Rises Again Seoul Ranked 12th in Global Competitiveness Korea Slides in Global Competitiveness Index WEF Lists Five Major Drags on the Global Economy Korea Leaps to 11th Place in Competitiveness Index

Briefed at a session of the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness at Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee Myung-bak said, "I'm going to establish law and order during my term. There will be no exceptions." He added respect of law and order was not merely a matter of obeying the rules but “can decisively contribute to attracting foreign investment."

Sagong Il, the chairman of the council, said, "The operation of the joint investigation task force aims at prompting civil servants and social leaders to set an example and advising the general public to respect the law."

The government will launch the task force centered on the Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office by November. It will concentrate on investigating tax evasion by the rich, corruption among senior government officials, and large-scale economic crimes, cooperating with the NTS and the FSS.

Meanwhile, the government decided to establish a "peaceful demonstration zone" away from city center to reduce the social cost caused by street demonstrations. It will set up a speech podium and guarantee free rallies and expression in the zone. To reduce damage from online slander and insults, the government will include “cyber slander” as a charge subject to harsher criminal punishment than general slander in a law on the promotion and protection of communication and information.

It will also revise the cost sharing for foreign workers' board and lodging. Currently, businesses bear the entire cost, but under the new system, they will share the costs with their foreign staff.

(englishnews@chosun.com )