Ministry of Industry and SMEs Work Briefing
Rebuttal to Criticism from Lee Hakjae and the Opposition
Public Sector Discipline Reemphasized
"Enjoying Authority Without Responsibility Is a Thief's Mindset"
Ministry of Industry to Foster Regional Growth Drivers
"Five Core and Three Special Regional Growth Engines" to Be Finalized by February Next Year
On December 17, President Lee Jaemyung stated during his opening remarks at the joint work briefing of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office at the Sejong Convention Center, "Administration is different from politics, and this is a place for administration. We must be mindful of the people and the public." This comment was aimed at Lee Hakjae, CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, who amplified controversy through social media and a separate press conference following the work briefing.
President Lee pointed out, "This (work briefing) is not a place for political debate. It should not be abused." In particular, regarding the claim that "it is like revealing that hiding dollars in a bookmark cannot be detected," he remarked, "This is a coexistence of the world of common sense and the world of nonsense."
President Lee also emphasized, "In the field of administration, false reporting must never occur," adding, "There are cases where what is said a minute before and a minute after is different, and what is said during a work briefing is repeated elsewhere behind the scenes."
Previously, during the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport work briefing on December 12, President Lee questioned CEO Lee about the illegal export of foreign currency using bookmarks, but when he failed to provide a proper answer, President Lee said, "Why do you keep avoiding the question?" On December 14, CEO Lee wrote on his Facebook page, "What is concerning is that (through the work briefing) the whole world has learned that 'hiding dollars in a bookmark cannot be detected,'" and added, "If the President's proposed solution of 100% baggage inspection is implemented, the airport will be paralyzed."
In response, President Lee said, "There are people who criticize the President for teaching how to commit crimes," and countered, "There are comments on the articles stating that this method was reported in the news years ago and that the government issued a press release." As cases of illegal foreign currency smuggling increased, the Korea Customs Service released a press statement summarizing detection cases on June 20 last year. President Lee questioned, "So should we keep silent about some people committing crimes and give them the opportunity to do so?" and added, "If so, does the show 'Love and War' teach people how to have affairs?"
President Lee also refuted CEO Lee's claim that illegal foreign currency export is solely the responsibility of customs. CEO Lee argued, "Incheon International Airport Corporation's inspection work is limited to dangerous items such as knives, awls, and firearms." However, President Lee responded, "Strictly speaking, it is the Korea Customs Service's responsibility, but the Customs Service has delegated this to Incheon International Airport Corporation and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The corporation inspects foreign currency exports exceeding 10,000 dollars." After refuting CEO Lee's remarks, President Lee emphasized, "Our people are observing everything through collective intelligence. We must not underestimate the public."
President Lee also reiterated the importance of discipline within the public sector. He stated, "Administration operates on a command-and-obey system. Superiors have no choice but to trust their subordinates' reports, so maliciously submitting false reports or distorting reports to conceal incompetence is the worst conduct." He added, "Exercising authority and enjoying honor and benefits while refusing to take responsibility is the mindset of a thief." President Lee also called for prompt understanding of work duties, saying, "Whether you are a minister or a director, when you are promoted or transferred and take on new work, you must quickly get up to speed, even if it means staying up all night."
On this day, President Lee continued the fourth day of work briefings throughout the day. The briefings covered the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Korea Meteorological Administration, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, the Ministry of Personnel Management, and their affiliated public institutions.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced three major policy directions under the vision "Growth for Regions, Vitality for Companies." The pillars are region-centered economic growth, an advanced manufacturing AI transformation, and a new trade strategy to maximize national interests. The Ministry will finalize the "five core and three special regional growth engine" industries by February next year to foster regions as drivers of economic growth. The selected industries will receive concentrated support through the "five growth package" covering deregulation, talent, finance, funding, and innovation, and the Ministry is also considering introducing a "growth engine special grant," similar to the U.S. IRA, to attract large-scale regional investment.
The Ministry will also promote mega-scale industries that transcend regional boundaries. It will establish the "Southern Semiconductor Innovation Belt" to expand the Seoul metropolitan semiconductor ecosystem to Gwangju, Gumi, and Busan, and create a battery triangle belt linking Chungcheong, Honam, and Yeongnam. The Ministry will also strengthen the foundations for future industries tailored to each region, such as Gwangju's AI autonomous driving demonstration city, the Advanced Display Research Institute in Chungnam, and Daegu's AI robotics infrastructure.
The Ministry will pursue industrial innovation by combining manufacturing and AI. Centered on the "Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) Alliance," which brings together over 1,000 industry, academia, and research organizations, the Ministry will build 500 AI factories, develop 15 large and small business collaborative AI leading models, and establish 13 AI demonstration industrial complexes.
The Ministry will also foster advanced and new industries. For key industries such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, automobiles, shipbuilding, bio, and defense, it will implement a strategy of establishing domestic mother factories and overseas mass production, and will continue large-scale R&D investments in next-generation batteries, AI semiconductors, LNG cargo holds, and core autonomous driving technologies.
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