President Lee: "Now Is the Time to Join Hands Together, Not Engage in Futile Hostile Strife"

On August 18, President Lee Jae-myung stated, "Rather than engaging in fruitless political strife that alienates the lives of the people and breeds mutual hostility, it is time for us to all join hands to build an irreplaceable Republic of Korea."

Presiding over the 1st Eulji and the 36th Cabinet Meetings at the Blue House on the same day, President Lee added, "I urge everyone in politics, who represent the lives of the people, to work closely together to improve the lives of the public, to continuously reform against unfairness and stagnation, and to realize Korea as a global powerhouse with unrivaled competitiveness."

President Lee Jae-myung is presiding over the 1st Eulji Cabinet Meeting at the Blue House on August 18, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

President Lee emphasized, "Neither ironclad national security, nor thorough disaster preparedness, nor sustained economic growth is possible without uniting the hearts of the people." He added, "We must consistently strive to listen to the voices of the sovereigns and, rather than focusing on minor differences, seek out greater commonalities in order to faithfully serve the people's will."

He continued, "People may have different opinions. There may be conflicts." However, he noted, "In the broader view, all of us are a community of destiny, bound to come together in strength for a better life and a brighter future for our citizens."

President Lee further remarked, "Whether belonging to different parties or factions, or even having competed fiercely against each other, our shared responsibility as partners for the sake of our country and people is the same." He stressed, "We are people who must join hands and move forward together into the future without ceasing."

He then pledged, "Our government, born from the sovereign will of the people who overcame internal strife, will never lose its original spirit and will always advance tirelessly together with the people."

Meanwhile, referencing the heavy rains that hit Geoje and the southern regions of Gyeongnam over the weekend, President Lee instructed Prime Minister Han Seong-sook to "draw up comprehensive countermeasures and recovery plans for the areas most affected by the heavy rains."

President Lee commented, "Meteorological disasters such as record heatwaves, droughts, and torrential rains are becoming the norm." He added, "It is time to approach the issue of climate as a matter of national security."

With regard to infrastructure such as dams, reservoirs, rivers, levees, and sewage systems, President Lee stated, "We must practically implement plans to sufficiently reinforce them to withstand even extreme climate disasters." He requested, "Please ensure thorough expansion of related budgets and manpower, and work to improve relevant systems."

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