Kang Hoon-sik Urges Thorough Economic and Security Preparation Ahead of First South Korea-U.S. Summit

Remarks at the Senior Secretaries' Meeting... Emphasis on "Mobilizing All Available Resources to Prepare for Heavy Rainfall"
"Economic Criminal Penalty Rationalization Task Force in Operation Since the 1st"
On Public Officials' Union Welcoming 'Abolition of Policy Audits': "Accelerating Efforts to Create an Environment for Conviction-Driven Work"

Kang Hoon-sik, Chief Presidential Secretary, urged on the 4th, ahead of the upcoming South Korea-U.S. summit, "Since this will be the first meeting between the leaders of South Korea and the United States, thorough preparation in the fields of economy and security is essential." He also emphasized the need to mobilize all available resources to prepare for the ongoing heavy rainfall.

Yonhap News

Kang Yu-jeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, stated during a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office that "the 6th Senior Secretaries' Meeting was held, presided over by Chief Secretary Kang." She continued, "Chief Secretary Kang stressed that the President's goal is to establish a practical, market-oriented government that supports and encourages business activities." She further explained, "He reminded participants that the government is pursuing policies to support businesses, such as fostering future strategic industries worth 100 trillion won, creating a national fund, advancing to become one of the top three AI powerhouses, establishing 'RE100' industrial complexes, and building a next-generation Korean power grid."

The discussion also covered the launch of the Economic Criminal Penalty Rationalization Task Force (TF), which has been operating since the 1st of this month to address CEO criminal risk. Spokesperson Kang said, "Chief Secretary Kang requested that the voices of businesses and those on the ground be carefully listened to, and that related ministries cooperate organically so that the effects of policies can be realized in practice."

There was also mention of a statement by the National Public Officials Labor Union welcoming the President's directive to abolish policy audits. Spokesperson Kang stated, "We hope that the union's assessment?that this will provide a fundamental condition for public officials to fulfill their responsibilities with conviction?will be realized as a policy achievement." She added, "In addition to abolishing policy audits, we will accelerate efforts to improve the working environment so that public officials can work with conviction, including revising investigation standards for abuse of authority and overhauling inefficient on-call duty systems."

Furthermore, Chief Secretary Kang noted that there were casualties and displaced persons due to last night's heavy rainfall, and that more localized heavy rain is expected today. He instructed that all available resources?including local governments, police, fire departments, voluntary crime prevention teams, and volunteer fire brigades?be fully mobilized to ensure thorough preemptive evacuation in the forecasted areas.

Spokesperson Kang explained, "Chief Secretary Kang specifically instructed the relevant local governments to prepare thoroughly to prevent additional damage such as landslides in areas affected by the heavy rains at the end of July." She added, "Even while President Lee Jaemyung is on vacation, the government's disaster response system is operating 24 hours a day, and Chief Secretary Kang stressed that there must be no negligence in protecting the lives and safety of the people, which is the nation's foremost responsibility."