President Lee: "Wage a housing supply blitz... actual construction starts and move-ins matter"

President Lee Jae Myung presides over Cabinet meeting
"Housing permits have fallen sharply since 2020"
Orders maximum reduction in time needed for permits and construction starts
Ahead of Police Day, says "investigations must be fairer and more a

President Lee Jaemyung on Oct. 20 ordered a "housing supply blitz" to shorten as much as possible the time required to approve housing projects and begin construction, as part of efforts to stabilize the real estate market. He stressed that the government must deliver visible results that lead to construction actually beginning and residents moving in, rather than stopping at announcing housing supply plans, saying, "The success or failure of the government's policies depends on achieving housing stability that people can feel." With Police Day just one day away, he also called for preventing violent crime and strengthening police investigative capabilities, and urged the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) to prove its value through investigations without exception.

President Lee Jaemyung speaks at a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on Oct. 20, 2026. Yonhap News.

"What matters is construction actually beginning and people moving in, not declaring how many homes will be built"

In his opening remarks at the 45th Cabinet meeting, which he chaired at the Blue House that day, President Lee said, "Housing stability is a key foundation for materially improving people's lives," and stressed the need for consistency in policies to expand housing supply and manage the market.

Reiterating that the current instability in the real estate market was not a problem that had arisen in a short period, President Lee urged officials to move away from past policies that focused on presenting supply figures and concentrate administrative efforts on bringing forward the point at which homes actually enter the market.

"What matters is not simply declaring or announcing how many homes will be built, but actually starting construction and having people move in," President Lee said. "I hope you will launch a housing supply blitz by breaking free from existing practices and procedures and shortening as much as possible the time required for everything from preparing residential sites to obtaining various permits and starting construction."

He also indirectly blamed the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon for the current real estate instability. "Housing permits fell sharply over the roughly three years from 2020 onward," President Lee said, adding that "supply instability has persisted structurally as the supply of new housing sites in new towns has also been delayed."

On Aug. 13, the government announced measures to accelerate housing supply and unveiled a plan to add more than 230,000 housing units in the Seoul metropolitan area by 2030. The government also said at the time that it would shorten the average time from announcing a public housing site to beginning construction from 68 months to as little as 37 months, and provide tax, financial and regulatory incentives to projects that begin construction early.

President Lee also referred to the scheduled move-in date for Incheon Gyeyang New Town in December, saying, "In December, move-ins will begin in Incheon Gyeyang for the first time among the third-phase new towns. Housing supply in other new towns must also be expedited." About 1,285 housing units in Incheon Gyeyang, including public-sale housing and housing under the Newlywed Hope Town program, are expected to welcome their first residents at the end of the year.

He also called for expanding the supply of public housing for young people and the middle class. "We must give special attention to quickly supplying high-quality public rental housing for young people and the middle class through active fiscal management," President Lee said.

Ahead of Police Day, "The greater the authority, the more important public trust becomes"

President Lee Jaemyung speaks at a Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House on the 20th. 2026.10.20 Yonhap News

President Lee also stressed the state's duty to protect people's lives and safety, alongside housing stability. Ahead of the 81st Police Day on Oct. 21, he called for sweeping reform of the police, whose role has expanded following changes to the criminal justice system.

"Our police are facing significant changes and challenges," President Lee said. "With the reform of the criminal justice system, which separates investigations and indictments completely for the first time in more than 70 years, the role and responsibilities of the police have become greater than ever." He added, "No matter how much authority they have, without the public's trust, it is no more than a castle in the air. I hope all police personnel will keep in mind that all public authority stems from the people's trust."

On public safety, he called for a comprehensive overhaul of existing response systems. Referring to a recent series of relationship-related crimes and random knife attacks, he said, "We must devise special measures to ensure that people's lives and safety are no longer threatened by such antisocial violent crimes."

He also ordered a strict, zero-tolerance response to major crimes that harm people's daily lives, including hacking, illegal private lending, local corruption, voice phishing and drug offenses. "Public trust comes from concrete action and results on the ground in people's daily lives," President Lee said. "The police must become a true people's police force that is the first to reach out when people are in crisis and the one they can trust and rely on most when they suffer unjust harm."

To SCIA chief Kim Jiyong: "Investigate without taking sides... Prove why you need to exist"

Serious Crimes Investigation Agency chief Kim Jiyong delivers remarks at a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 20, 2026. At right is acting National Police Commissioner General Kim Jongcheol. Yonhap News

President Lee also spoke directly to SCIA chief Kim Jiyong, who attended a Cabinet meeting for the first time that day. After presenting Kim with his letter of appointment the day before, he reiterated at the official meeting the principles and role that the new investigative agency must uphold.

"Reform of the prosecution has been institutionally completed, with investigations and indictments fully separated and the Prosecution Service and the SCIA placed under different government ministries," President Lee said. "Now that the SCIA is making a fresh start as an independent agency investigating serious crimes, it needs a new sense of purpose and resolve."

"As a newly established agency, it will have many shortcomings," he said, while urging it to "swiftly and rigorously carry out the critical work of resolving the public's concerns and anxieties about prosecution reform and maintaining social order fairly."

He repeatedly stressed the need for political neutrality and fairness in investigations. "For serious crimes that destroy people's lives and disrupt social order, such as white-collar crime, power-related corruption, and securities and financial crimes, you must mobilize all investigative resources to punish those responsible severely, without taking sides or making any exceptions," President Lee said. He added, "I hope you will prove to the public the reason for the SCIA's existence and its necessity." Kim said, "I will do my utmost to establish the SCIA successfully, complete prosecution reform and protect the public's rights and interests."

Mourning firefighter who died in the line of duty... "全面 review of core public safety functions"

In his opening remarks that day, President Lee also paid tribute to Fire Lieutenant Kim Jinseok, who died in the line of duty at a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 16. Kim, whose funeral was held the previous day with honors from Gyeonggi Province, lost his life after entering the fire scene as part of the first response team. "The Korean people will remember forever Fire Lieutenant Kim, who devoted himself and gave his life to protect their lives and safety," President Lee said. "The state will now be a family to his bereaved relatives and a dependable source of support." He also wished the injured firefighters a speedy recovery.

President Lee also ordered a sweeping overhaul of core functions directly related to public safety, including firefighting, policing, disaster prevention and health care, as well as a comprehensive review of relevant systems to protect the safety of frontline personnel. He called for a proactive approach to improving effective systems, in addition to expanding budgets and staffing.

He further ordered extensive safety inspections of major facilities, including crowded venues and bridges, to prevent large-scale loss of life. "We must focus the government's capabilities on building a government that saves lives and a country that protects people's daily lives," President Lee said.

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