President Lee Emphasizes Cooperation with New Local Governments

President Lee Jae-myung stated on June 4 that with the elections concluded, the political sphere must unite to focus on improving the livelihoods of citizens, achieving regional balanced development, and fostering national unity.

During a senior secretary meeting at the Blue House, President Lee congratulated those who were elected and offered condolences to those who faced disappointing results.

Wearing a tie featuring blue, red, and white colors to symbolize unity, President Lee emphasized, "Regardless of the competition during the election, all parties must work together as partners to protect the lives of the people and build a better future for the nation." He pledged that the government would humbly respect the will of the people expressed in the local elections and actively cooperate with newly elected local governments, regardless of their political affiliations.

He added, "We will gather the hearts of all citizens and devote our efforts to advancing their lives and the development of South Korea."

President Lee noted that today marks the beginning of the second year of his administration, stating, "All public officials must tighten their shoelaces and focus their efforts on accelerating government policy implementation."

However, he expressed significant regret regarding the shortage of voting papers that occurred in some areas of the capital region during the June 3 local elections. He remarked, "It is deeply regrettable that there were unacceptable gaps in election management, which should be thorough in a democratic republic."

He pointed out, "All state agencies have a duty to ensure that there are no gaps in the process of exercising the sacred right to vote. Unfortunately, residents in some areas of Seoul experienced significant confusion and inconvenience due to the lack of voting papers."

President Lee emphasized that relevant authorities must use all the powers and responsibilities of the executive branch to clarify the reasons for the issues that arose and hold accountable those who should be responsible.

Additionally, regarding disaster prevention and safety measures for the summer season, he urged, "We must mobilize all available resources to prevent disasters such as heatstroke, flooding, landslides, and collapses of retaining walls, which often lead to significant casualties in summer." He called for thorough inspections of high-risk areas, including construction sites and aging public facilities.

He also directed that improvements to break areas for facility management workers, such as security and cleaning staff, be reflected in public institution evaluations. President Lee noted, "While the right to rest for facility management workers is legally guaranteed, the actual situation on the ground remains inadequate. All central and local governments, as well as public institutions, must expedite improvements to these facilities and reflect the results in their evaluations."

He added, "I urge the upcoming ninth local governments to pay special attention to this matter and ensure that the basic rights of those who quietly support the lives of citizens in unseen ways are guaranteed."