President Lee Presides Over Cabinet Meeting at New Busan Ministry Headquarters
"Public’s Collective Intelligence Always the Wisest"
"Relocation of Oceans Ministry to Busan Is a Major Step for Balanced Development"
Financial Services Commiss
President Lee Jaemyung, in relation to the ministry-by-ministry work reports conducted through live broadcasts, emphasized, "Public officials must always be mindful of the people, who are the sovereign, and must deeply recognize that the collective intelligence of the people always finds the wisest answers." With the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' work report on this day, President Lee concluded his first round of work reports since taking office.
He also stressed that the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan would serve as a significant milestone for balanced national development and Busan's leap forward, adding that efforts are being made to select the next minister from Busan if possible.
On the 23rd, presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the temporary office of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in Busan, President Lee stated, "Through the first-ever live broadcasted work reports, I believe the transparency and accountability of state administration have increased, and the people's sense of sovereignty has been substantially strengthened." He particularly noted, "There were many cases where citizens pointed out and corrected inadequate reports from some ministries in real time through comments. There were also instances where new issues or problems were raised that I myself was not aware of."
He once again highly praised the collective intelligence of the people. President Lee said, "The collective intelligence of the people is outstanding and mature. I believe it far surpasses that of any prominent political commentator or leader." He continued, "Reflecting the will of the people in all aspects of state affairs on a daily basis is the spirit of the times and the path for popular sovereignty to follow. Each ministry must transparently disclose the entire process of policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, and continuously seek public input."
Additionally, regarding the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, President Lee stated, "It will be a significant turning point for balanced national development." He added, "I previously said we should complete the relocation within the year, and now I have kept my promise to the citizens of Busan. I deeply thank the ministry staff who carried out the move smoothly despite the challenges, and the citizens of Busan who supported the process."
He also announced plans to support Busan in becoming a leading economic, industrial, and logistics hub in Northeast Asia. President Lee said, "We will spare no financial or administrative support. By expanding port facilities, providing high value-added services, and supporting the growth of regional businesses, we will make Busan and the southeastern region pioneers in the era of the Arctic route." He added, "We will also expedite the full-scale implementation of the Gadeok New Airport project and the expansion of K-culture and K-tourism infrastructure in Busan." Referring to the vacancy left by former Minister Jeon Jae-soo, who resigned over allegations of receiving money from the Unification Church, President Lee said, "Unfortunately, the ministerial post is currently vacant, but we are making efforts to find a successor from the Busan region if possible."
Year-End and New Year Crowd Safety Measures: "Take Action Even If Criticized as Excessive"
President Lee, noting the series of events attracting large crowds during the year-end and New Year period, said, "When it comes to public safety, doing too much is hundreds of times better than doing too little. Please take measures to minimize risks, even if you are criticized for being excessive."
He further emphasized, "There is often complacency regarding safety measures for annual recurring events. Relevant ministries and local governments must conduct double and triple checks on safety measures for events that attract large crowds." He also called for the maximum possible deployment of safety personnel and urged responsible organization heads and event organizers to exercise particular caution.
President Lee also mentioned a suggestion made during a meeting with the leadership of the Korea Senior Citizens Association the previous day, asking for discussions on faithfully reflecting "Korea's development" in the background images used during the national anthem. He said, "Yesterday, when I met with the leadership of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, one member said the background image for the national anthem is too outdated and requested it be changed to something that reflects the nation's recent development and enhanced international standing. Please discuss ways to maximize national pride."
President Lee also referred to a recent survey on the values of the Korean people, noting, "In response to the question about the desired future image of Korea, many cited a country with mature democracy as their political ideal. Until now, being an economically wealthy country always ranked first, but this has changed." He continued, "We must now consider these democratic values more deeply in governance. Since December 3 of last year, we are now in a position to move forward with hope for the future."
Following the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' report on the 'Busan Port 3.0 Promotion Strategy,' President Lee called for its steady implementation. Regarding the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's crowd safety management measures for the year-end and New Year period, he said, "More people are likely to gather for sunrise events than usual. Responsible organization heads and event organizers must pay special attention to safety management," reiterating his philosophy that "when it comes to public safety, doing too much is hundreds of times better than doing nothing."
In addition to the scheduled ministry reports, there was an impromptu report on the "Southeastern Region Investment Corporation New Railway Promotion Plan." After receiving a report from the Financial Services Commission that it would actively discuss with the National Assembly to establish the legal basis and promptly implement support for maritime port infrastructure, advanced industries, and venture businesses, President Lee confirmed that the available assets of the investment corporation amount to 50 trillion won and asked for the project to proceed smoothly.
Orders Review of Whether Surge in Criminal Compensation Is Due to Excessive Prosecution
In the subsequent closed-door meeting, after approving the "2025 General Account Reserve Fund Expenditure Plan" in response to the sharp increase in state and criminal compensation payments, President Lee asked whether excessive prosecutions by the prosecution might be behind the surge in criminal compensation. According to Kang Yoojeong, spokesperson for the presidential office, he instructed that a separate report be prepared on the status of criminal compensation payments and trends in acquittals. Criminal compensation refers to compensation claimed from the state by criminal suspects or defendants who are detained but later receive a non-prosecution disposition or are found not guilty.
President Lee also addressed various proposals raised during the luncheon with the Korea Senior Citizens Association. He instructed a review of the suggestion to increase the number of orders and decorations in line with the elderly population's rapid growth from 3 million to 10 million, and requested that the standards for exemption from gift tax on childbirth incentives be clearly defined.
He further noted that the work reports have the effect of ensuring that ministers and heads of public institutions clearly recognize their responsibilities, while also criticizing some heads of institutions who focus only on authority, prestige, or position rather than their actual duties. He instructed Cabinet members to ensure that instructions are properly communicated and that follow-up measures are taken after work reports from their respective agencies, ministries, and departments. President Lee said, "Through work reports, communication between superiors and subordinates is essential for the entire public sector to function effectively. Make sure to reward and commend good performance, and impose sanctions for poor performance, thereby ensuring clear accountability."
Meanwhile, 129 agenda items were submitted at the Cabinet meeting that day, and all were approved as originally proposed. Among them, 58 items were key statutes related to the Lee Jaemyung administration's state agenda. Specifically, these included a revision to the "Women's Economic Activity Act" changing the term "career-interrupted women" to "women with career experience" and prohibiting discrimination against them, amendments to the "Food Sanitation Act" and "Health Functional Food Act" introducing complete labeling of genetically modified foods, and amendments to the "Criminal Procedure Act" to, in principle, allow victims access to and copying of evidentiary documents and records.
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