Kang Hoonshik Shares President Lee's Remarks at the End of Tariff Negotiations
"President Often Felt Frustrated... Focused and Refocused"
"Realized a Chapter Had Ended When He Said, 'Let's Go Have Lunch'"
President Lee Jae Myung is having lunch with aides including Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon Sik, Chief of Security Hwang In Kwon, and Protocol Secretary Kwon Hyuk Gi at a restaurant near the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul on the 31st. Presidential Office
According to Chief Kang, at the end of the negotiations, after a meeting with the three offices (Secretariat, Policy Office, and National Security Office) and a video call with the ministers, President Lee said to Kang, "Let's go to my office." It is reported that President Lee sat in silence for a while before saying, "Chief Kang, we must not commit a crime against our history."
Chief Kang said, "The President often felt frustrated during the negotiations," adding, "He, who is usually so decisive, was more cautious than ever, focusing and refocusing." He continued, "And today, when I heard the President say, 'Let's go have lunch,' I finally felt that a chapter had come to a close," and shared several photos.
In the photos, members of the presidential office are seen having lunch at a restaurant. President Lee, wearing a sky-blue shirt with his sleeves rolled up, is smiling brightly and conversing with his aides. He also took photos with citizens he met at the restaurant. Chief Kang commented, "We relieved our tension over a bowl of naejangguk, shared laughter with citizens, and I am grateful for the President's deliberation and determination, the efforts and teamwork of all ministries and presidential staff who worked together as one."
President Lee Jae Myung is speaking at a special lecture for senior public officials held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 31st. Presidential Office
That morning, at the Lee Jaemyung administration's "Minister and Vice Minister Workshop" held at the Government Seoul Complex annex auditorium, President Lee also spoke about the burden of the tariff negotiations. He said, "Just because I didn't say anything, people think I was just sitting still, but even my teeth were shaking." He continued, "If I spoke, it would have adversely affected the tariff negotiations, so I kept silent. Like a duck that appears graceful on the surface but is paddling furiously underwater, my aides know how anxious we have been and what we have really been doing."
He added, "In a narrow sense, this is about companies' overseas markets, but in reality, it could be a burden on the people of Korea, and every single decision has a tremendous impact. Sometimes I think Korea now stands at a crossroads between prosperity and decline. I feel we are at a turning point, whether we continue on the path of positive growth and development or regress entirely."
He went on to say, "From last night until this morning, our ministers, the prime minister, and all front-line departments worked hard to conclude the Korea-US trade agreement. We have been anxious and it has truly been a difficult environment. I, too, felt the need to strengthen the nation's power. Although the outcome is not fully satisfactory, I sincerely thank everyone for achieving such significant results despite the challenges."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
