President Lee: "We Must Move Beyond the 'Dogma' of Separation of Industrial and Financial Capital and Engage in Sufficient Discussion"
Emphasizes "Very Limited Areas" for Relaxation
Spokesperson Kang Yujeong on Lee Jinsook's Arrest: "Arrested Due to Repeated Failure to Respond to Summons"
On October 2, the Office of the President stated that, regarding the specific operational plan for the $350 billion investment in the United States currently under negotiation between South Korea and the United States, "The Korean side has proposed a revised plan to the U.S. side and is awaiting a response." Earlier, Kim Yongbeom, Chief Policy Officer at the Office of the President, said in a media interview that day, "We have sent a revised memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the U.S. investment fund to the U.S. side."
During a briefing on the same day, Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Office of the President, was asked about Kim's interview and replied, "As discussions are still ongoing, I cannot provide details, but it is true that we have proposed a revised plan to the United States." She added, "We are negotiating various scenarios and will strive to come up with a plan that benefits both countries."
Kang also mentioned that President Lee Jaemyung reiterated during a senior aides meeting that day the issue of exceptionally considering the relaxation of regulations on the separation of industrial and financial capital in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
The previous day, during a meeting with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, President Lee stated, "We can consider relaxing the separation of industrial and financial capital, provided that safeguards are in place to prevent the spread of deregulation to other areas and to ensure that no harm from monopolies arises."
According to Kang, President Lee also remarked during the meeting that "There is a social need to move beyond fixed dogmas. I hope for sufficient exchange of opinions." However, Kang emphasized that President Lee repeatedly stressed that discussions on relaxing the separation of industrial and financial capital could only be considered in "very limited areas."
Meanwhile, during the briefing, Kang was also asked to comment on the position of the Office of the President regarding the arrest of former Korea Communications Commission Chair Lee Jinsook by police on charges including violations of the Public Official Election Act.
In response, Kang said, "This is not the official position of the Office of the President," clarifying that she was speaking in a personal capacity. She added, "I heard that (Chair Lee) repeatedly failed to respond to summons. Officially, if someone fails to respond to a summons more than three times, an arrest warrant is issued and the person is arrested."
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