At the fifth emergency economic council meeting, held for the first time outside the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday (Feb. 5), President Lee Myung-bak ordered his economic aides to put together a package of emergency export strategies.

Commenting on the latest fall in Korea''s exports, a 32.8 percent plunge in January year-on-year, Lee emphasized that the strategies to be employed should differ from those used when the world economy was faring well.

The fifth emergency economic meeting took place at the Gwacheon Government Complex in Gyeonggi-do (province), where economy-related ministries, such as the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, are located.

President Lee said that the Japanese and Latin American markets should be fully exploited, and also that exports are very important for the Korean economy to remain vibrant throughout the year, according to the vice presidential spokesperson Kim Eun-hye.

Lee also underscored support for cash-strapped small- and medium- sized companies. "The government should lend as much support as possible for businesses when they are endeavoring to grab every opportunity," Lee said.

He also said that the government should take care of firms which are being treated unfairly just because of the fact that they are undergoing a debt workout program.

Meanwhile, senior presidential secretary for economy Yoon Jin-sik said President Lee will hold additional emergency economic meetings whenever they are deemed necessary. The regular weekly meeting has been taking place every Thursday since Jan. 8.