South Korea's Moon Jae-in sacks finance minister, policy chief amid growing economic woes

South Korean President Moon Jae-in sacked his top two economic officials on Friday as the world’s 11th-largest economy struggles with slowing growth, rising unemployment and persistent income gaps.

Finance minister Kim Dong-yeon and presidential chief of staff for policy Jang Ha-sung have both been replaced, top Blue House spokesman Yoon Young-chan said in a televised statement.

The two had reportedly been at odds with each other over how to address the situation.

Moon’s global profile has been dominated by his role in the rapid diplomatic rapprochement with nuclear-armed North Korea, but at home his handling of the economy has become increasingly controversial, contributing to falling poll ratings.

His administration has steeply raised South Korea’s minimum wages, cut working hours and converted temporary staff to permanent in a series of redistributive moves it says will lead to what it calls “income-led growth”.

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It is a marked change from the growth model of the past, driven by exports and investments by major companies, that has seen the country rise to become Asia’s fourth-biggest economy.

Critics say the moves have had the opposite effect to what was intended, worsening the situation of many low-income earners and seeing small businesses cut staff, while big firms hold back on investment in the face of tougher regulation.

Last month, the central Bank of Korea cut its growth forecast for this year to 2.7 per cent, down from the 3.1 per cent achieved in 2017.

Unemployment jumped 0.4 percentage points to 3.8 per cent in the third quarter, with youth joblessness at its highest since 1999 at 9.4 per cent.

Finance minister Kim had called for redistributive policies to be rowed back, including minimum wage increases, while Jang wanted to stick with pursuing equality.

Kim was replaced by Hong Nam-ki, a veteran bureaucrat, while Jang was succeeded by Kim Soo-hyun, currently Moon’s top social affairs adviser.