President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday (Jan. 22) presided over the third emergency economic council at an underground bunker set up at Cheongwadae.

Out of all jobless people, self-employed small businesspeople and workers who used to work for small- and medium sized companies should be given special attention because they can hardly afford minimal living expenses, the President said to the participating ministers and ranking officials.

When providing houses for commoners, the government should try to lower prices and lessen the financial burden for them, the President emphasized.

He also stressed that active promotion of the government''s ongoing deregulation efforts is critical to attracting investment from abroad.

President Lee received follow-up reports from the officials at the council as to the agenda items touched upon in the second emergency economic council.

Kim Eun-hye, vice presidential spokesperson, said that the government will provide the underprivileged with 500 houses to be used as their temporary residence from February. A further 1,500 houses will gradually be provided over time, Kim added.

The third emergency meeting was held under the theme "stabilization of people''s livelihood" and delved into welfare enhancement for the vulnerable in society who are suffering from the current financial turmoil, according to Cheongwadae.