Prime Minister Minseok Kim: "All Measures to Stabilize Prices... Housing Benefit Coverage Must Be Expanded"

Prime Minister Minseok Kim stated on the 10th, "According to the Bank of Korea's indicators, the cost of living has risen by more than 19% over the past four years," and added, "The government will mobilize every possible measure to manage prices." Regarding the stabilization of the real estate market, he said, "We will meticulously check whether loan regulations are being properly implemented, and we need to expand the scope of housing benefits to reduce the burden on ordinary citizens."

Prime Minister Minseok Kim is presiding over the first Ministerial Meeting on State Affairs held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 10th, speaking on current issues such as public livelihood and heatwaves. 2025.7.10 Photo by Yongjun Cho

Prime Minister Kim made these remarks during his opening statement while presiding over the first Ministerial Meeting on State Affairs at the Government Seoul Office on the morning of the 10th. Expressing a strong commitment to price stability through an "all-out government-wide response," he said, "With regard to agricultural products affected by heatwaves, we will secure stable supplies through advance purchase contracts, and we will continue to monitor the international oil market."

Addressing the ongoing record-breaking heatwaves, Prime Minister Kim stated, "Heatwaves have become not just a meteorological issue but a social disaster," and emphasized, "Protecting those who work outdoors?whether for their livelihoods as individuals or for industry at the national level?is a responsibility of the state," calling for the preparation of countermeasures.

He also said, "There are projections that this year may see the highest ever electricity demand, so the government will prepare to ensure stable power supply under any circumstances, including major equipment failures." The government has designated July and August as the period for power supply and demand countermeasures and plans to operate an integrated situation room during this time.

The meeting was attended by officials from relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Prime Minister Kim urged public officials, "When it comes to measures for prices, disasters, and housing, you must always, first, second, and third, put yourself in others' shoes," and emphasized, "We must approach our work from the perspective of the people, who are not merely the recipients of services or the targets of our policies, but the sovereign citizens, while we serve as public servants." He added, "I hope that in the upcoming second and third Ministerial Meetings on State Affairs, we will be able to discuss materials that contain real, concrete measures that show progress each time."