Lee: "Promoting Housing, Jobs, and Inclusive Finance"... No Condemnation of North Korea Over Landmine Incident, Urges "No Conspiracy Theories"

President Lee Jae-myung Presides Over Cabinet Meeting on the 29th
"Tax Surplus Should Be a Catalyst for Alleviating Polarization"
Addresses Landmine Incident Without Condemning North Korea, Calls Out Conspiracy Theories

President Lee Jae-myung designated housing, jobs, and inclusive finance as the "three key social policies" on the 29th, emphasizing a concentrated allocation of available resources and policy tools while urging all government ministries to execute these initiatives swiftly. Regarding the recent landmine accident near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), he called for a thorough investigation and restraint from conspiracy theories, but stopped short of condemning North Korea. In terms of national security, he praised the operational deployment of the KF-21, called for the advancement of nuclear-powered submarine and hypersonic missile technologies, and ordered an acceleration of efforts toward "self-reliant national defense."

Presiding over the Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on September 29, President Lee said, "We will pursue three key social policies that most significantly impact people's lives: housing, jobs, and inclusive finance," adding, "All ministries must make every effort to rapidly implement these core social policies." Specifically, he proposed a housing stabilization plan covering 1.19 million households, national job-creation projects, and the expansion of inclusive financial services, vowing to "focus available resources intensively."

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House on the 29th. 2026.9.29 Yonhap News Agency

In particular, he announced plans to actively utilize this year's expected tax surplus to address polarization. President Lee projected that this year's tax revenues would increase significantly compared to initial expectations, stating, "The tax surplus, which is the fruit of growth and recovery achieved by the efforts of all citizens, must be actively utilized as a catalyst for real improvements in people's lives and as an initial step toward easing polarization." Referring to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s revised forecast, which raised Korea's economic growth outlook by 1.1 percentage points to 3.7% this year, he stressed the need to ensure that the benefits of growth are broadly shared throughout society.

He also clarified that he would not slow down efforts toward reform. President Lee stated, "Reform that transforms people's lives and brightens the nation's future is the very identity and raison d'être of our government," pledging, "No matter how difficult or challenging, we will fulfill the mandate assigned by our sovereign people to drive irreversible reforms across society." He added, "We will be judged by the public not by our words but by our actions, and we will be accountable for the results."

In particular, following the expansion of investigative authority in the wake of prosecution reform, he urged the police to strengthen internal controls. President Lee pointed out that if the police fabricate cases or conceal evidence, mild disciplinary action is not sufficient, raising the need for stricter disciplinary measures and accountability. He further emphasized the importance of enhancing investigative oversight and independence, also calling for the establishment of internal checks and post-incident correction systems commensurate with increased authority to close investigations.

Regarding the landmine accident: "Let there be no conspiracy theories," no condemnation of North Korea

President Lee extended condolences and wished a speedy recovery to the three soldiers seriously injured in last week's landmine accident near the Military Demarcation Line. He said, "I send my deepest sympathy to the injured service members and their families," and continued, "Military authorities should communicate closely with the United Nations Command, and must uncover the facts of the incident transparently through a thorough investigation," adding, "Necessary measures will be taken based on these findings."

However, President Lee did not specifically name or assign responsibility to North Korea, nor did he issue a separate statement of condemnation toward the North. This stance appears grounded in a policy to respond based on the results of the investigation into the circumstances and accountability for the accident. Instead, President Lee said, "There can be no partisanship when it comes to national security," and cautioned, "There must be no baseless conspiracy theories that jeopardize our national security."

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House on the 29th. September 29, 2026 Yonhap News Agency

With regard to national defense, he underscored the need to accelerate the advancement of weapons systems for self-reliant defense. President Lee referenced the formal delivery of the domestic KF-21 fighter jet to the Air Force on September 22, declaring, "Robust national defense is both the foundation and the core pillar that safeguards the lives of our people and the national interest of the Republic of Korea." He added, "The official induction of the KF-21 holds special significance in terms of self-reliant defense," and called for the development and deployment of cutting-edge weapons systems to defend air, land, sea, and even outer space through indigenous technology.

President Lee especially stressed, "We must redouble efforts on building nuclear-powered submarines and advancing hypersonic missile technologies, as they are key elements for self-reliant defense." He continued, "Beyond achieving the ability to win in war, we must strive consistently to create a true peace in which the need to fight does not arise." This reflects his plan to strengthen military deterrence while pursuing de-escalation on the Korean Peninsula.

President Lee also briefly touched upon the results of his summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and his state visit to Mexico, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. He described having "in-depth discussions" on major issues such as shipbuilding, nuclear power, and nuclear-powered submarines at the Korea-U.S. summit and instructed relevant ministries to "thoroughly follow up to ensure that the outcomes of the UN trip translate into tangible benefits for the national interest."

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