President Lee: "For Me, Staying Home Is a Vacation... Now That the Reports Are Over, Feel Free to Take Time Off"

"Not Just Senior Officials, but Subordinates Should Be Able to Take Vacations Too"

"One Hour of a Civil Servant's Time Is 52 Million Hours for the People... Remember the Gravity of Public Office"

President Lee Jae-myung, after concluding the work briefings from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Fair Trade Commission on August 4, told public officials, "Now that the briefings are done, you can go on vacation with peace of mind." He also instructed senior officials to ensure that their subordinates are able to use their own vacation time as well.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the ministry briefing on the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Climate Change, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission held at the Blue House's Guest House on August 4, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

At the conclusion of the briefing, President Lee said, "I feel sorry that everyone has been working so hard these days," and added, "It seems no one is taking any time off just because the President doesn't take a vacation, but for me, being at home is a vacation. Now that the work briefings are over, I hope you can all take a proper break and go on vacation without any worries."

He continued, "(Those attending the briefing) should also take a break, but make sure that your team members can go as well," he said, emphasizing, "It's important to take some time to rest when you can."

Earlier that afternoon, in his opening remarks at the first ministry briefing with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, President Lee also mentioned public officials who had postponed their vacations to prepare for the report. He said to the attendees, "I've heard rumors that many civil servants stayed up all night preparing for these briefings and haven't been able to take proper vacations. I feel sorry about that. Once this is over, please take some time off."

At the same time, he once again stressed the importance of public officials' decisions on the lives of the people. President Lee said, "The fate of the nation and the lives of the public depend on the way public officials work and their attitude. I often say, 'One hour of a public official's time is 52 million hours,'" referring to the national population. He continued, "When you've been a public official for a long time, it's easy to see issues as just what's written on a document. But for the many people represented within, their business and the success or failure of their lives are at stake. I hope you will reflect from time to time on just how serious and valuable your work is."

Meanwhile, President Lee recognized achievements from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Fair Trade Commission, citing their efforts to reduce industrial accidents, expand exports by small and medium enterprises, and impose sanctions on collusion and unfair practices. "Because of your hard work, we have seen significant progress in national development and improvements in people's lives," he said, adding, "I encourage you to continue doing your utmost in the future."

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