President Lee: "Election Commission Requires Reform to the Point of Dismantlement... Constitutional Amendment if Needed" — Stresses "Inflation Comes First and Second" (Comprehensive)

Strong Remarks on Suffrage Infringement at Senior Secretaries' Meeting

Criticism of "Overall Incompetence, Laxity, and Moral Hazard"

Emphasis on Inflation Control Even as Middle East War Ends: "Inflation First, Inflation Second"

Order

On the 19th, President Lee Jae-myung stated that, in light of the recent incidents of voter rights violations that emerged during the election management process, there is an urgent need to push forward with comprehensive legal revisions aimed at reforming the election management system to the point of dismantling the existing structure. President Lee also elevated the issue of reforming the National Election Commission from a matter of institutional reorganization to a constitutional one, saying that constitutional amendments should be actively considered if necessary.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House on the 19th. June 19, 2026 Yonhap News Agency Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In his opening remarks at the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House that afternoon, President Lee said, “An incident that is utterly incomprehensible to the Korean people has occurred, involving a violation of suffrage. From my perspective, it is both regrettable and, at the same time, baffling.” He continued, “This incident is the result of the National Election Commission’s overall incompetence, negligence, and moral hazard, as it pursued organizational interests with authority delegated by the sovereign people while neglecting its given responsibilities.”

Referring to the fact that the National Assembly’s special committee for parliamentary investigation began its activities the previous day, President Lee emphasized, “To ensure that such problems never recur, we must conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the full truth and swiftly enact comprehensive legal reforms that will dismantle the current election management system.”

He especially noted, “Due to practical limitations that even the president cannot address, there is little we can do under the current circumstances,” and further stressed, “If necessary, we must actively consider amendments to the Constitution, going beyond mere institutional reform.” He added, “We cannot leave things as they are or simply cover up the issue.”

President Lee also announced a strict response policy regarding the outbreak of violence near the Jamsil ballot counting station. He stated, “It is inevitable that we must respond strictly to the violent incidents around the Jamsil counting station, which have already reached an intolerable level.”

However, he also affirmed the need to guarantee freedom of peaceful assembly. President Lee said, “Peaceful rallies aimed at restoring popular sovereignty should be actively protected,” but also insisted, “We must relentlessly pursue those responsible for illegal violence and fake news that exploit such gatherings.” He continued, “The political community must not ride the wave of illegal violence and contribute to social disorder. Instead, please focus your efforts on uncovering the full truth and implementing fundamental reforms in election management.”

Regarding the end phase of the Middle East war, President Lee identified responding to inflation as the top priority. He remarked, “A memorandum of understanding has officially been signed to bring the Middle East war to a close,” adding, “After more than 100 days, the war in the Middle East is finally nearing its end.” Nonetheless, he warned, “The high oil prices, inflation, and increased exchange rate volatility triggered by this war have caused serious damage to our economy. It will take a considerable amount of time before the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened and the energy supply chain is completely normalized.”

He continued, “We must approach the situation not with a sense of closure, but with the mindset that the real work begins now—devoting all our energy to restoring the livelihood economy and addressing weaknesses in our industrial economy. The most urgent task, above all, is price stability.” He also noted that the price cap on petroleum and proactive inflation responses have helped manage price increases to some extent, but instructed that “until international oil price volatility is definitively resolved, we must continuously devise measures to normalize petroleum product prices and ease the burden of fuel costs on consumers.”

President Lee also called for measures to stabilize prices and supply for key items such as eggs, vegetables, fruit, and meat. He said, “We must come up with extraordinary measures that go beyond the existing framework. The moment we think the crisis has passed is when we need to respond even more boldly and precisely.” He warned, “If we try to save a bucket of water just because the flames seem under control, we could end up in even greater trouble. Both the Blue House and the government must mobilize every available resource with a determination to restore price stability and the livelihood of the people.”

President Lee also cited heat wave response and industrial accident prevention as major current issues. He noted, “Due to the nationwide heat wave, heat-related illnesses are rapidly increasing,” and directed a review of the heat wave response manual and reinforcement of cooling center operations for schools, urban poor neighborhoods, rural areas, and industrial worksites. He especially mentioned the importance of guaranteeing workers’ rights to stop work on-site. President Lee said, “We must carefully monitor workplaces to ensure that workers can genuinely exercise their right to stop work in dangerous situations. Recently, workplace falls have suddenly surged.”

He added, “While the causes need to be analyzed scientifically, I suspect that, initially, the lack of attention due to the heat is a factor. Ensuring a safe work environment and the right to stop work is crucial for preventing industrial accidents.”

He also called for safety and livelihood measures for the summer vacation season. President Lee said, “Starting next week, beaches across the country will open. We must thoroughly review safety measures to prevent accidents in high-risk water recreation areas.” He further stated, “We must also proactively address the recurring issue of unscrupulous price gouging during the vacation season.”

According to Senior Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung, in the subsequent closed-door meeting, the following items were reported: “Summer Natural Disaster Response System and Directions” by the Office of Political Affairs; “Natural Disaster Response Measures in the Economic Sector” by the Office of Economic Growth; “Natural Disaster Response Measures in the Social Sector” by the Office of Social Affairs; and “Natural Disaster Response Measures in the Climate and Environmental Sector” by the Office of Future Planning for AI.

President Lee, upon receiving the disaster risk facility inspection plan—including rainwater drainage systems—under the “Summer Natural Disaster Response System,” emphasized that, in the event of an accident that was fully foreseeable, those responsible should be held strictly accountable. Conversely, he said that ministries and agencies that made thorough disaster prevention efforts should be properly rewarded. President Lee also reviewed plans to use modular housing as part of the support measures for those displaced by wind and flood disasters, inquiring whether relocation and installation are feasible and what the budget requirements would be for producing 100 units.

Meanwhile, President Lee also cited Gangneung, which suffered severe hardships due to last year’s extreme drought, as an example, and checked with the Secretary for Climate, Energy, and Environment to confirm whether fundamental countermeasures for drought have been established. He also reviewed whether practical measures, such as securing alternative reservoirs, are in place, and instructed thorough preparations to ensure that citizens do not experience the same inconveniences as last year, according to Senior Spokesperson Kang.

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