President Lee Marks 1st Anniversary, Outlines 4 National Goals

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung celebrated his first year in office by reflecting on the nation's resilience and charting a course for the future. In a press conference held at the Blue House on June 8, 2026, he stated, "We have overcome crises in democracy, trade, and public welfare over the past year." Lee emphasized that his administration has worked diligently to restore the nation and its democratic order, which he described as having been threatened by internal strife and external geopolitical shifts, including a Middle Eastern war.

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We have overcome crises in democracy, trade, and public welfare over the past year.

Looking ahead to his second year, President Lee announced four key national objectives. First, he aims to propel South Korea into an "ultra-competitive industrial powerhouse" where all citizens and regions benefit from growth opportunities. This involves mobilizing national capabilities to secure overwhelming competitiveness in advanced technology sectors. Second, he stressed that the fruits of this growth must be shared broadly, not concentrated in specific companies or regions. To this end, plans are underway to effectively utilize excess tax revenues generated from the semiconductor industry.

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We will move towards becoming an ultra-competitive industrial powerhouse where all citizens and the nation benefit from growth opportunities.

In foreign policy, Lee committed to translating the diplomatic and security achievements of the past year into concrete results. This includes pursuing revisions to the South Korea-U.S. Atomic Energy Agreement, acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, and working towards the early restoration of wartime operational control. He vowed to strengthen South Korea's global standing as a responsible power, underpinned by a robust alliance with the U.S., strong self-defense capabilities, and pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interests.

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We are also preparing plans to utilize the excess tax revenue from semiconductors most effectively.

Domestically, the president pledged to decisively address unfair practices and privileges that undermine public welfare, pursuing the normalization of 'abnormal' situations across society. He specifically targeted market-disrupting crimes such as stock manipulation and real estate fraud, promising strict enforcement. Furthermore, Lee committed to building a comprehensive "social safety net" to protect citizens' lives and ensure a secure environment for work and living, stating, "There is no greater duty of the state than protecting the lives of its people."

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We will do our best to ensure that the valuable achievements in diplomacy and security made over the past year, such as the revision of the Korea-U.S. Atomic Energy Agreement, the introduction of nuclear submarines, and the early recovery of wartime operational control, bear concrete fruit.