100 Days of President Lee Jaemyung's Term
Firm Stance on Industrial Accidents and Public Discipline
Bowing His Head to Social Disasters
President Lee Jae-myung is answering questions at the 100-day inauguration press conference titled "100 Days for Recovery, Growth for the Future" held at the Blue House State Guesthouse on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
On his first day in office, there were not even pens or paper at the presidential office. President Lee Jaemyung, who began his term without a transition committee, took on the role of sole leader with a small group of aides to overcome a six-month vacancy. His words and actions over his first 100 days, including his remark, "I wish there were 30 hours in a day," were marked by a mix of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
Joy: Inauguration Ceremony, National Appointment Ceremony, Restoration of Korean Summit Diplomacy
President Lee began his term at 6:21 a.m. on June 4 with a modest inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall. In his inaugural address, he prioritized people's livelihoods and the economy, stating, "Let us send outdated ideologies to the museum of history. I will use policies from both Park Chunghee and Kim Daejung if necessary, without distinction," emphasizing "unity" and "pragmatism." On August 15, at the "National Appointment Ceremony" planned to mark the 80th anniversary of liberation, he received appointment certificates from 80 selected citizens and declared, "As a loyal servant of the sovereign people of the Republic of Korea, I will move forward trusting only in the people, toward a nation where the people are the owners and happiness belongs to the people."
He also made a successful debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage and held bilateral summits with the leaders of the United States and Japan. At the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, he held consecutive meetings with the leaders of nine countries and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, declaring "Korea is Back," signaling the restoration of Korean diplomacy that had been suspended since the 12·3 Martial Law. In the South Korea-United States and South Korea-Japan summits, he proactively introduced agendas on "economic cooperation" and "peace on the Korean Peninsula" based on "pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests," achieving positive responses.
Anger: War on Industrial Accidents, Strengthening Discipline Among Public Officials
President Lee declared a war on industrial accidents early in his term. The first mention came during a Cabinet meeting on Saturday, July 5. There, he stated, "Please report all possible countermeasures that can be taken now, and if necessary, include legislative changes to reform the system." He personally monitored fatal accidents at industrial sites in real time, and his tone grew increasingly stern. At Cabinet meetings, he repeatedly pressed his ministers, saying, "This is murder by willful negligence," "Find and report all legal measures available, including banning public bids," and "It's not just a day or two; people keep falling and dying. Punish them quickly and severely." When security incidents recurred at telecommunications and financial companies, he ordered swift preparations for measures, including punitive fines, judging that the mistaken perception of security investment as a cost was the root of the problem.
Whether at meetings in the Yongsan presidential office or on-site inspections, he emphasized "discipline among public officials" and "the responsibility of public servants." At Cabinet meetings, emergency economic task force sessions, and flood control site inspections at the Han River Flood Control Office, he repeatedly reminded officials, "An hour we spend is worth 52 million hours." Notably, during the Han River Flood Control Office inspection, he pledged to improve the treatment of public officials in disaster and safety fields, stating, "We will fundamentally change the system for personnel allocation and performance-based rewards." During an inspection of Gangneung, which was suffering from the worst drought, he was seen closing his eyes tightly and then rebuking Mayor Kim Hongkyu when the mayor failed to clearly answer questions about water sourcing costs and future budget needs-a scene that was broadcast live.
Sorrow: Bowing His Head to Social Disasters
President Lee also confronted social disasters that brought national mourning. His first face-to-face meeting with bereaved families of social disasters took place unexpectedly at a Gwangju town hall meeting on June 25. When bereaved families of the Muan Airport disaster, who had not been invited, raised their voices at the entrance, President Lee said, "If someone is shouting, let them in," making the meeting possible. Three weeks later, he met bereaved families of various social disasters at the Blue House State Guesthouse and issued an official apology, saying, "The government failed to fulfill its responsibility." When the bereaved families spoke of the pain caused by secondary victimization during the meeting, President Lee ordered the police to set up a dedicated task force. On the 20th of last month, after a firefighter suffering from trauma following the Itaewon disaster passed away, he expressed, "My heart is breaking," and announced plans to strengthen institutional and legal safety nets.
Happiness: The President's Surprise Visits to Markets
President Lee also enjoyed making unplanned site visits. After the Memorial Day ceremony on June 6, he made a sudden visit to a nearby traditional market while returning to his residence. This was his first visit to an everyday space where citizens live since taking office, where he greeted local residents and was seen carrying items in plastic bags. Even after this, whenever a town hall meeting or local event ended, he visited nearby markets with First Lady Kim Hye-kyung or his aides. On the 4th of this month, President Lee invited children who had written letters to him to the presidential office. When asked about his happiest moment, he replied, "This moment, meeting all of you, is my happiest."
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