President Lee Jae Myung on Jan. 21 speaks at a new year's presser at Yeongbingwan Guest House of Cheong Wa Dae.
By Kim Hyelin
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae
President Lee Jae Myung on Jan. 21 said, "I will fulfill the mission assigned to me with a greater sense of responsibility than last year so that 2026 is the starting point for a great leap forward for the Republic of Korea."
At a new year's news conference held at the state guest house Yeongbingwan of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, he proposed a major shift in growth strategy as the core of his second year in office. He also called this year the starting point of a "great transformation and great leap forward" for the country.
"The first principle of national governance of the people-centric government is just the people's lives," he said.
"Our direction is realistic pragmatism that transcends ideology, factions and political strife," he added, announcing his intent to crack down on any injustice regardless of the gravity of an issue.
He also reaffirmed his policy to firmly push ahead with prosecutorial reform based on the same principle.
President Lee proposed five main principles of national governance to lead the country's transformation: growth led by the provinces; inclusive growth that share opportunities and benefits equally; sustainable growth based on safety; appealing growth driven by culture; and stable growth underpinned by peace.
He said such strategic shifts were not a mere expansion of policy but also a process of comprehensive recalibration of governance priorities.
On growth led by the provinces, the president called the regional integration of Daejeon with Chungcheongnam-do Province and Gwangju with Jeollanam-do Province "a symbolic starting point and national survival strategy."
He said political factors would not affect the direction of such integration and announced a plan for territorial restructuring from a unipolar system centered on the capital region toward a multipolar setup.
Turning to "growth for all," President Lee proposed creating growth engines focused on startups and venture companies. He pledged to overcome the "K-shaped" growth model in which one side grows while the other stagnates, saying, "I will steadily announce specific policies to usher in an era of a startup and venture boom."
President Lee pledged to reinforce safety at industrial sites to support sustainable growth, while prioritizing investment in culture as a future growth engine and pivotal strategy to boost the national brand. He also expressed his commitment to continue efforts for peace and alleviating tension on the Korean Peninsula and lay the basis for stable development.
President Lee Jae Myung on Jan. 21 takes questions at his new year's presser held at the state guest house Yeongbingwan of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.