During a senior advisors meeting at the Blue House, President Lee stated, "The transformation of rural areas and agriculture must begin with correcting the structural ailments present in our agricultural sector."
He identified the normalization of agricultural cooperatives as a prerequisite for this transformation.
"Normalizing agricultural cooperatives, which support the foundation of agriculture, is of utmost importance," President Lee emphasized. "Agricultural cooperatives have a significant responsibility to protect farmers' rights and promote sustainable rural development."
He acknowledged, however, that the current situation is lacking. "Due to the opaque decision-making structure and corruption among some employees, we have continuously faced criticism for not fulfilling our fundamental roles," he noted.
President Lee called for a return to a farmer-centered organization. He stated, "We must quickly return the agricultural cooperatives, built by the sweat and dedication of farmers, back to the farmers themselves."
He also stressed the need for rapid improvements in governance from the perspective of member sovereignty and the swift implementation of normalization measures, including strengthening democratic oversight.
President Lee urged, "Please accelerate reforms such as direct elections for members, so that agricultural cooperatives can truly become leaders in agricultural development and improving the quality of life for farmers."
Additionally, President Lee expressed condolences regarding the recent murder of a high school student in Gwangju, saying, "I pray for the victim and extend my deepest sympathies to the bereaved family."
He also wished for the quick recovery of another student who was injured, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive response to crimes targeting vulnerable groups, including youth and women. "We must declare a war on such crimes and significantly strengthen our prevention and response systems," he asserted.
President Lee stated, "Until public anxiety is alleviated, we will continue thorough special security operations in areas of crime concern, and we will take strict action against online harassment targeting victims." He added, "I once again pray for the victim's soul, and I hope all public officials will commit themselves to ensuring the safety of the nation, which is our primary duty."
Earlier, on May 5, at around 12:11 a.m., a suspect named Jang Yoon-ki was arrested for fatally stabbing a 17-year-old high school student, identified as A, near a university in Gwangju's Gwangsan District. Jang also seriously injured another 17-year-old student, B, who came to A's aid upon hearing her screams.
The Gwangju Police Agency announced that starting at 7 a.m. that day and continuing for 30 days until June 12, they would post Jang's name, age, and mugshot on their website.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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