Lee: "Time Needed to Establish New System... Please Do Your Best"
Sharing Philosophy of Governance with the Cabinet
Attendance by Lee Juho, Yoo Sangim, Cho Taeyul, and Others
"Let's Smile as We Go" - Attempt to Lighten the Atmosphere
On the second day of his term, June 5, President Lee Jae Myung held his first Cabinet meeting since taking office at the Yongsan Presidential Office, reviewing key issues for each ministry. President Lee particularly emphasized the importance of continuity in state affairs and the establishment of public service discipline, in order to minimize any administrative vacuum resulting from the early presidential election.
President Lee Jae Myung is continuing the Cabinet meeting while having lunch with gimbap at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 5th. Photo by Presidential Office. Yonhap News
Nineteen Cabinet members attended the meeting, including Kim Bum Seok, First Vice Minister of Economy and Finance; Lee Ju Ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education; Yoo Sang Im, Minister of Science and ICT; Cho Tae Yul, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Kim Young Ho, Minister of Unification; Kim Seok Woo, Vice Minister of Justice; Kim Sun Ho, Vice Minister of National Defense; and Ko Ki Dong, Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety. At the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of the Interior and Safety, vice ministers attended in place of vacant ministerial positions. Newly appointed presidential aides, including Kang Hoon Sik, Chief of Staff, and Wi Sung Rak, National Security Advisor, were also present. At 9:30 a.m. that day, President Lee completed electronic approval for their appointments as public officials as his first official act via e-document.
In his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting, President Lee said, "It will take considerable time to fully establish the new administration's system," and asked, "During your time in public office, please do your utmost in your respective roles." The previous day, as his first executive order, President Lee had instructed the convening of an "Emergency Economic Task Force (TF)" and reviewed specific measures for the swift implementation of economic recovery policies. President Lee added, "During this period of transition, our people are enduring hardships. I want to minimize this period as much as possible," and said, "I would like each ministry to review its current issues one more time."
Since it was the first Cabinet meeting, President Lee asked the moderator several questions before the meeting began, such as, "Will the Ministry of the Interior and Safety be in charge of proceedings?" "Is there a set scenario or designated lead for the meeting?" and "Why aren't we proceeding with the presentations as instructed? Please go ahead with the proceedings." He also seemed aware of the tension among the attendees, saying, "It feels a bit awkward, doesn't it? Let's try to smile as we go," in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.
President Lee Jae Myung is continuing the Cabinet meeting while having kimbap for lunch at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News.
The meeting, which started at 10:00 a.m., was expected to continue into the afternoon. Lunch reportedly consisted of a single roll of gimbap. Kang Yoo Jung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, held a briefing and said, "At the Cabinet meeting, President Lee is sharing his philosophy of governance with the current Cabinet, reviewing key issues, and proposing alternatives." Kang also said that the Cabinet discussed measures in response to recent major wildfire disasters.
Civil servants who had been dispatched to the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration and then returned to their ministries had mostly completed their return to duty that day. This was in line with President Lee's directive for them to "return to their original posts." Spokesperson Kang explained, "Most have resumed their duties, and the foundation for work is gradually being established," and added, "Chief of Staff Kang Hoon Sik will communicate necessary work matters to staff at a meeting on June 8." Meanwhile, when asked about a possible phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, a Presidential Office official said, "The schedule is being coordinated."
Following the Cabinet meeting, President Lee also plans to convene a safety and security review meeting to inspect the national safety system.
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