President Lee Jae-myung Laughs Heartily at Deputy PM's Remark Calling Prime Minister 'Diligent'

Lim Ki-geun, the deputy prime minister for state affairs coordination, pledged to diligently assist Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's key initiatives and deliver concrete, visible outcomes. His remarks during a policy briefing to President Lee Jae-myung on August 5th elicited a hearty laugh from the president.

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I will faithfully assist Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's key agenda and create tangible, visible results.

During the briefing at the presidential office, Lim presented the State Affairs Coordination Office's priority tasks for the second half of the year. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity, noting it was the first time in 12 years the office was reporting directly to the president. President Lee inquired about the long gap, to which Lim explained the office's role had traditionally been more of an internal coordination platform without distinct, independent reporting.

President Lee acknowledged this, suggesting the office was previously seen as lacking independent functions. Lim, however, interpreted the current opportunity as one filled with both expectation and encouragement. He vowed that the State Affairs Coordination Office would become an indispensable platform for South Korea, effectively connecting national governance and resolving issues impacting citizens' lives.

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Thank you for giving the State Affairs Coordination Office the opportunity to report to the president for the first time in 12 years.

After hearing the briefing, President Lee emphasized the importance of preventing public officials from facing undue trouble. He noted that many officials hesitate to act due to fear of audits, severe investigations, accusations of abuse of power, or other legal repercussions. Lee urged the relevant ministries, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the State Affairs Coordination Office, to proactively address and mitigate such issues.

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Officials have often faced audits, severe investigations, and accusations of abuse of power, leading to criminal charges and disciplinary actions. As a result, many are reluctant to take action.