Starting the New Year with Opening Ceremony and New Year’s Greeting Event
First Opening Ceremony Since Returning to the Blue House... Launching the ‘First Year of a Great Leap Forward’
A Turning Point from ‘Seven Months of Recovery’ to ‘A Year of Achievement and Results’
Expected to Request Cooperation on the ‘Five Major Transformations’ at the New Year’s Greeting Event
On the morning of January 2, President Lee Jaemyung will hold the New Year’s opening ceremony at the State Guest House of the Blue House, marking the first step in the administration’s national governance for the year. In the afternoon, he plans to host a New Year’s greeting event, exchanging well-wishes for the new year with figures from various sectors, including politics and government.
The presidential opening ceremony is typically an occasion to share the administration’s policy direction for the new year and to outline the year’s tasks for public officials. This year’s ceremony is particularly symbolic, as it marks President Lee’s first official work event of the new year since returning to the Blue House after taking office on June 4 last year. Having taken charge of state affairs immediately at the ‘Yongsan Presidential Office’ without a transition committee, this event is expected to serve as a turning point from the ‘seven months of recovery’ to ‘a year of achievement and results.’ His first opening ceremony message is likely to include a blueprint for simultaneously driving growth, livelihood, and unity.
Last January, the government’s opening ceremony was held under the ‘Acting President’ system. At that time, Acting President Choi Sangmok, during the ceremony at the Government Complex Seoul, referred to the “unprecedentedly grave situation” and called on public officials to ensure early stabilization of state affairs, maintain a stable economy, guarantee public safety, and promote unity. The backdrop to this was the shadow of a ‘governmental vacuum,’ compounded by the declaration and subsequent lifting of the 12·3 Martial Law, the passage of the presidential impeachment bill on December 14, 2024, and the passage of the impeachment bill against Acting President and Prime Minister Han Ducksoo on December 27, 2024.
In the afternoon, President Lee will host a New Year’s greeting event, exchanging greetings and outlining the government’s direction with figures from various sectors, including cabinet members. With party leader Jang Donghyeok and other leadership from the People Power Party set to be absent, President Lee is expected to focus on his New Year’s address themes of ‘the first year of a great leap forward’ and the ‘five major transformations,’ actively seeking cooperation.
The previous day (January 1), President Lee, in his New Year’s address, declared “the first year of Korea’s great leap forward” and presented the ‘five major transformations’ that would fundamentally change the nation’s growth strategy. First, he pledged to shift from a Seoul-centric model to a ‘five poles, three special zones’ multi-polar regional growth system led by local governments. He promised stronger support for regions farther from the capital, and to invest in education, metropolitan transportation, cultural facilities, and tourism as integrated packages, aiming to create a structure where the development of high-tech industries directly translates into regional advancement.
Second, he emphasized a shift from large conglomerate-led growth to ‘growth for all.’ He pledged to ensure that national achievements, such as tariff negotiations and exports in defense and nuclear power, are not concentrated among a few, but spread to small and venture businesses and households. He also introduced the ‘National Growth Fund’ to enable all citizens to invest in and share the fruits of growth, and outlined plans to foster a ‘re-challenge ecosystem’ by supporting a transition from an employment-centered society to one focused on entrepreneurship.
Next, he proposed ‘growth rooted in safety.’ He directly criticized the structural issue of workplace fatalities with the phrase, “What use is a high economic growth rate if lives are lost?” and announced plans to increase the number of labor inspectors by 2,000 and establish a new ‘Workplace Guardians’ system. He also discussed growth led by culture, stating that the cultural budget would be increased to 9.6 trillion won to expand the positive impact of K-content throughout the industry, and that the cultural ecosystem, including basic arts, would be strengthened.
Lastly, he stressed growth underpinned by peace. He reaffirmed his commitment to easing inter-Korean tensions and restoring trust, supporting North Korea-U.S. dialogue as a ‘pacemaker,’ and turning the ‘Korea risk’ into a ‘Korea premium.’ He also outlined plans to reduce growth uncertainty through strong self-reliant national defense and an evolved South Korea-U.S. alliance.
After delivering his New Year’s address, President Lee visited the Seoul National Cemetery, where he laid a wreath and offered incense at the Memorial Tower, paying silent tribute to the fallen patriots and national heroes. In the guestbook, he wrote, “The first year of Korea’s great leap forward, we will open a world of coexistence together with the Korean people.” He was accompanied by Prime Minister Kim Minseok, cabinet members, ministers, and Blue House staff. After the visit, they shared rice cake soup for breakfast at the Blue House staff cafeteria, exchanging well-wishes for the new year.
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