[Full Text] President Lee: "I Will Give My All... A Government to Expect Even More in the Next Four Years"

On June 8, President Lee Jae-myung marked his first year in office by outlining his vision to advance South Korea as a “super-gap industrial powerhouse.” To this end, President Lee announced plans to fundamentally transform the country's growth strategy and launch large-scale investment projects.

During a press conference held at the Blue House Reception Hall on the occasion of his first anniversary as president, President Lee declared, “I will make 2026 the year when the bold dream of an 'irreplaceable Republic of Korea'—a nation that no other country in the world can substitute—begins.” He also presented four national policy goals: ▲ establishing South Korea as a super-gap industrial powerhouse ▲ strengthening South Korea’s role as a global leader in diplomacy and security ▲ building a society where norms and rules are upheld ▲ and ensuring a government that protects the lives of its people.

President Lee Jae-myung is answering questions from the press at a press conference held at the Blue House Reception Hall on his first anniversary of inauguration, June 8, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Reflecting on his first year in office, President Lee said, “Amidst waves of multiple crises, we have instead confirmed South Korea’s potential, possibilities, and opportunities.” He referenced crises over the past year, including internal unrest and martial law, trade and security challenges, and the Middle East war. “We have repeatedly reaffirmed that, thanks to the great strength of a united Korean people, we can overcome any hardship,” he said.

He added, “I will run with all my strength, as if each day given to me is the last day of my term. I will compete with the previous year of the people’s sovereignty government, and I am determined to make the next four years even more anticipated than the past year.”

The following is the full text of President Lee Jae-myung's remarks.

Respected and beloved citizens, the people’s sovereignty government, which set sail without a moment to catch its breath amid a national crisis, has now reached its first year.

Carrying the earnest hopes and wishes of 52 million citizens, we have devoted ourselves every day with a sense of urgency for the “recovery and normalization” of the Republic of Korea.

Over the past year, we have overcome three waves of crisis threatening the lives of our citizens and the future of South Korea.

Despite relentless crises—including the democracy crisis triggered by internal unrest and martial law, the trade and security crisis brought on by seismic shifts in the international order, and the livelihood crisis caused by the Middle East war—we have repeatedly confirmed that the remarkable strength of a united Korean people enables us to overcome any difficulty.

We have restored a broken constitutional order and democracy, proudly announced the return of “Democratic Korea” to the world, and are now forging a hopeful path where recovered democracy is driving economic growth.

Believing that the more difficult the problem, the more essential it is to gather everyone’s wisdom, I have made the voices of 52 million sovereign citizens the compass for running the country.

I believe the most hopeful change our government has achieved over the past year has been to raise transparency in national affairs through direct communication with the people and to strengthen accountability in public office.

Dear citizens, over the past year, amid various waves of crisis, we have actually confirmed South Korea’s potential, possibilities, and opportunities.

The unprecedented crisis for democracy became an opportunity to showcase the Korean people's remarkable strength, and the geopolitical crisis caused by upheaval in the international order served to demonstrate South Korea’s outstanding industrial and technological competitiveness.

Last year and this year, in meetings with global leaders on the diplomatic stage, I have truly realized that the world’s attention is now on South Korea.

Every country with access to the sea wants to cooperate with South Korea, and every country that wants to defend its territory seeks to partner with us.

The entire world is watching how South Korea will address universal human challenges—from industrial transformation triggered by artificial intelligence and the climate crisis to declining birthrates, vanishing regions, polarization, and deepening inequality.

If we are the first to blaze a trail, South Korea’s challenge will become the new global standard and benchmark.

I will make 2026 the year when the bold dream of an “irreplaceable Republic of Korea”—a nation that no other country in the world can substitute—begins.

Building on South Korea’s experience, capabilities, values, appeal, and the national energy to overcome crises, we will usher in a new era of the “K-Initiative.”

We will leap forward as the first country to fully implement artificial intelligence in industry and daily life, the first partner for nations planning independent defense, the most exemplary energy transition nation among non-oil producers, the country that utilizes its entire territory most efficiently, and from a nation that draws global attention to a nation the world truly needs.

To achieve this, I present four national policy goals.

First, we will advance to become a super-gap industrial powerhouse, where all citizens and all regions of the country enjoy equal opportunities and benefits of growth.

We will mobilize the capabilities of both government and the private sector to secure overwhelming competitiveness in advanced technology fields.

In this era of technological hegemony, where the pages turn in the blink of an eye, even a brief complacency after gaining a lead in a particular area will quickly leave us behind.

We will continuously discover and nurture new “global super-gap growth engines” beyond semiconductors, which will become the next generation of South Korea’s core industries.

Most importantly, the fruits of growth must not remain confined to certain companies, regions, or sectors.

The achievements and opportunities cultivated by the capabilities of the entire community must flow to small and venture businesses, be distributed fairly across our land and all fields, and bring about changes that every citizen can feel in their daily lives.

Soon, we will unveil to the public a large-scale investment project that will bring about a fundamental transformation of our growth strategy.

We will also closely monitor the National Growth Fund, which has received strong public support, to ensure it fully realizes its role of “growth for everyone.” We are also preparing the most effective measures to utilize surplus tax revenue from semiconductors.

I believe that only when people have confidence that the growth of advanced strategic industries will bring about changes in their own lives can bolder national investments and continuous innovation be possible together with the public.

Second, we will advance as a global leader in diplomacy and security, safeguarding the peace and pride of all our citizens.

Over the past year, we have proven that South Korea is no longer a small nation in the East swayed by great powers, nor a passive follower of changes in the international order.

We will do our utmost to ensure that the precious achievements in diplomacy and security over the past year—such as the revision of the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, the introduction of nuclear submarines, and the pursuit of early recovery of wartime operational control—bear concrete fruit.

Under the principle that peace is growth and peace is livelihood, we will steadfastly pursue peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the path of coexistence and joint prosperity.

With democracy, industrial competitiveness, and cultural influence, South Korea has already become a model that the world wishes to emulate.

On the foundation of a solid Korea-U.S. alliance, robust independent defense, and pragmatic diplomacy for the national interest, we will strengthen our status and role as a “global responsible power.”

Third, we will build a normal society where norms and rules agreed upon by all citizens are strictly observed.

In a country where breaking the rules brings profit and success is achieved through cheating and expediency, how can we expect innovation and challenge?

No matter how trivial, we will resolutely correct unfairness, privilege, and irregularities that undermine people’s lives, and we will pursue the “normalization of abnormalities” in society with even greater vigor.

We will strictly crack down on crimes that disturb market order, such as stock price manipulation and real estate crimes. We will also unwaveringly implement structural reforms to dismantle privilege.

Fourth, as a government that protects lives, we will do everything in our power to safeguard the lives and human dignity of all citizens.

In a country where people are tormented by debt or meet death at their workplace just to survive, we can never take pride in being an economic or industrial powerhouse, nor in diplomatic or security accomplishments.

There is no national duty more important than protecting the lives of our people. We will realize proactive and meticulous administration that guards the public with a “social safety mattress”—comprising life-saving finance, workplaces where people can work with peace of mind, a welfare system that never gives up on anyone’s life, and crime-free streets.

We will build a system that puts the lives and safety of citizens first across all areas of government, including finance, welfare, labor, healthcare, law enforcement, and disaster response.

Dear citizens, as was the case over the past year, the sole standard for running the country will continue to be “the lives of the people.”

To protect people’s lives amid this era of great upheaval, we will become a government that is most innovative and practical, adapting proactively to change.

We will break away from conventional practices to make extraordinary judgments and move decisively. Beyond leading innovation, the government itself will become a model of innovation.

We will become a government where there are no silos between ministries when it comes to public livelihood, a government that debates fiercely but executes swiftly, and a government that is willing to pursue any policy as long as it benefits the people—relentlessly evolving in this way.

We will never compromise when it comes to people’s lives. We will not become complacent, even for a moment, about the country’s future.

With the mindset that every day given to me is the last day of my term, I will exert all my efforts.

In this way, I will compete with the past year of the people’s sovereignty government. I will become a government that inspires greater expectations for the next four years than for the past year. I will fulfill my given duty with an even greater sense of responsibility than over the past year.

I firmly believe that the great Korean people, the true owners of this country, will always be with us on this dynamic journey for a new leap forward for the Republic of Korea.

As always, guided by the wisdom of 52 million sovereign citizens, we will boldly move toward a “nation where the people are the owners and all share in happiness.” Thank you.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.