In a speech Monday given during an economic seminar, President Roh Moo-hyun declared that his government would deal sternly with any illegal actions undertaken by the labor sector.

Roh also said his government would try not to side with either labor or management, but would rather mediate and coordinate the labor disputes in an impartial manner.

The president singled out labor unrest and unstable economic conditions for the poor as two of the most urgent obstacles facing his government.

Roh stressed the need for the country to achieve industrial peace, saying that "the culture of labor-management relations need to change in the future," and establish a win-win situation for both parties "through principles, trust, dialogue and cooperation."