President Lee Myung-bak called Thursday for greater public awareness of the consequences of costly policies burdening future generations, saying it will help keep politicians from churning out populist policies.

Lee made the remark during a meeting with senior economic policymakers and private experts, organized to discuss the eurozone crisis stemming from debt-laden Greece and possible countermeasures, presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha said.

“It is important for the people to have the perception there should be no policies that burden the next generation,” Lee said.

“It is important how the people think. The political circles will feel burdened according to public perceptions.”

Noting that the U.S. and other nations also have major elections coming up this year, Lee said the government should study what effects those polls could have on South Korea’s economy and come up with countermeasures.

Lee has repeatedly warned against populist policies, especially in the run-up to last month’s parliamentary elections, as concern grows they could deal a serious blow to government finances and become a heavy burden on future generations.

On the eurozone crisis, Lee said the government should be thoroughly prepared for various contingencies, but also cautioned against portraying the situation too negatively as it could dampen domestic consumption, according to his spokesman. 

(Yonhap News)