Acting Prime Minister's First Cabinet Meeting... Han Deok-su "Focus on Utilizing Available Funds in the First Half of Next Year"

First Cabinet Meeting of Korean Acting President After Impeachment Approval
Next Year's Budget Confirmed... Rapid Execution for Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups
"Government Fully Committed to Restoring People's Livelihood and Economy"

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Photo by Yonhap News

Han Duck-soo, Acting President and Prime Minister, stated on the 17th, "The government will focus all its efforts on restoring the people's livelihood economy above all else," and urged, "Please concentrate the available resources such as national finances, public institutions, and private investments to be executed in the first half of next year so that the economy can regain vitality early."

Acting President Han presided over the first Cabinet meeting under the acting system at the Government Seoul Office that morning, saying, "The Cabinet is making every effort to stabilize state affairs."

He added, "I hope the financial authorities will promptly finalize the budget allocation so that the budget for next year, confirmed through deliberation at today's Cabinet meeting, can be executed immediately from the first day of the new year," emphasizing, "Please pay special attention to ensuring that the budget prepared for spreading economic vitality for Korea's future, including support for socially vulnerable groups such as easing the livelihood burden on ordinary citizens, protecting vulnerable groups, customized support for small business owners, and fostering advanced industries, is executed swiftly."

He continued, "Companies that need to establish investment plans for next year are currently concerned about management uncertainties," and ordered, "Please take good care of ensuring that the government's consistent policy direction and effective policies are well reflected in the '2025 Economic Policy Direction' and announced within this year, led by the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy."

Acting President Han requested, "Each ministry should actively cooperate so that progressive measures for domestic demand recovery and tourism revitalization can be included in the (economic policy direction)," and said, "Also, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and others should actively listen to difficulties faced by companies on the ground, seek solutions together, and actively communicate with the National Assembly to ensure that bills directly related to corporate investment, such as the Semiconductor Special Act, the Basic Artificial Intelligence Act, and the Power Grid Special Act, are promptly processed."

Acting President Han emphasized that the ROK-US alliance remains unwavering even amid martial law and impeachment crises. Referring to a call with U.S. President Joe Biden on the 15th, he said, "As Acting President, I explained that all state affairs will be thoroughly conducted according to the Constitution and laws going forward, and emphasized that efforts will be made to maintain and develop the ROK-US alliance without wavering."

He also explained, "I spoke with General Paul LaCamera, Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, reaffirming our firm commitment to the ROK-US combined defense posture in the current emergency situation, and agreed to continue planned joint exercises and training."