President Lee Jae-myung stated on November 15 that "reform should be based on national interest and people's happiness, and it must be proven through results, not grand declarations or clear assertions."
On this day, President Lee posted a message titled 'Action, not words' on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasized that public officials, who are granted power by the people, should focus on "what is necessary for the nation and its citizens, not on gaining popularity."
He continued, "When discussing reform, we should first consider whether it is necessary, rather than criticizing those who take actions that may lower their approval ratings." He stressed that the interests of the nation and the people should take precedence over personal or group interests.
President Lee identified key reform tasks, including economic reforms for growth recovery, livelihood reforms to alleviate polarization, and reforms in real estate, taxation, and finance. He also proposed consolidating public institutions and relocating them to promote balanced development, as well as reforms in the prosecution and police for fair investigations, and defense reforms for self-reliance.
He noted that the number of these tasks is so great that even if everyone works tirelessly until the end of his term, it would be difficult to resolve them all. He likened true reform to undergoing surgery or taking bitter medicine for health, acknowledging that it often faces backlash from numerous stakeholders.
While he understands the opposition from those adversely affected by reform policies, he stated that it is unacceptable for public figures who advocate for reform and the greater good to be swayed by such opposition or to use the name of reform to obstruct it.
President Lee has frequently used the term 'national interest and people's happiness' (국리민복) since his time as governor of Gyeonggi Province. During a debate over disaster relief funds on February 20, 2021, he urged the opposition to engage in good-faith competition for the sake of national interest and people's happiness. On October 26, 2023, he emphasized that the party should focus all its efforts on this principle during a meeting with current and former floor leaders of the Democratic Party.
On February 23 of last year, while serving as party leader, he addressed internal identity issues on social media, stating, "Whether left or right, progressive or conservative, political parties exist for the lives of the people and national development," and added, "As a practical mass party, we should do what is necessary for national interest and people's happiness without dividing into factions."
Additionally, on November 14, President Lee shared a video featuring Cheon Jun-ho, the Democratic Party's deputy floor leader and former secretary to the party leader, on the party's YouTube channel 'Minty07,' commending his efforts. He claimed that Cheon had also been targeted by the political prosecution simply for being close to him, stating, "The hardest thing is the arrows coming from behind."
In the video, Cheon reflected on the situation in September 2023 when the National Assembly approved a motion to arrest President Lee, saying, "Looking back now, it was truly a terrifying experience."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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