President Lee Promises to Double Governance Speed in Next Four Years

President Lee Jae-myung pledged on June 2 to ensure that his administration receives greater public support and evaluation by the end of his term than at its start.

During a Cabinet meeting and emergency economic inspection at the Blue House, President Lee stated, "In the next four years, if we double the speed of governance and put in our utmost effort, we can utilize the remaining four years as if they were eight years and work as if we have eight years ahead of us."

He noted that the government, which will soon mark its first anniversary, must build on its policy achievements to create more significant changes in people's lives, increase the pace of progress, and broaden its scope starting from the second year of his term.

Reflecting on the past year, President Lee acknowledged the challenges faced at the beginning of his term, including political and social shocks from civil unrest, economic turmoil, and shifts in the international order. He expressed gratitude for the public's support and the dedication of public officials, stating, "Despite these difficulties, we have successfully navigated through the crisis."

He added, "As a result, we are laying a solid foundation for the normalization and recovery of South Korea, as well as for the country's leap forward."

Regarding the tasks for the second year of governance, President Lee emphasized the need to spread the improvements in key indicators such as exports to small and medium-sized enterprises, small business owners, and vulnerable populations. He also stressed the importance of establishing robust material and institutional foundations to accelerate the AI revolution and energy transition, while pushing forward the development of advanced industries such as semiconductors, robotics, and defense to open the door to becoming a global economic powerhouse.

He concluded by stating, "We must swiftly promote regional balanced development and a transformation of the national territory, which can be seen as South Korea's survival strategy, and prepare effective alternatives to alleviate polarization, aiming for growth for all. We will actively utilize our capabilities and potential to strengthen our status as a responsible global diplomatic and security power in the international community."