President Lee: Officials Must Act Without Fear of Investigations

President Lee Jae-myung has voiced strong support for public officials who engage in 'active administration,' urging them to proceed with their duties without the paralyzing fear of subsequent investigations and audits. Speaking at the first general meeting of the Committee for Rationalization of Regulations, President Lee drew a parallel between his own experiences with legal scrutiny following the Daejang-dong development project and the broader challenges faced by dedicated civil servants. His remarks highlight a critical issue within the South Korean bureaucracy: the potential for diligent work to invite undue scrutiny, thereby stifling initiative.

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Even if you do your best, you face investigations and audits, and if you don't do your best, nothing happens.

President Lee articulated a concern that the current regulatory environment often seems driven more by the needs of regulatory bodies than by the practical demands of the field. He suggested that while the era of regulations being used as a tool for extortion is largely past, many existing rules still appear to serve bureaucratic convenience over genuine necessity. This perspective underscores a desire for a more dynamic and responsive administrative system, one that empowers officials to act decisively for the public good without being unduly hindered by procedural hurdles or the threat of retrospective punishment.

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Regulations today seem to be based more on the needs of the regulatory authorities than on the needs of the field.

Furthermore, the President underscored the delicate balance required between promoting economic activity through deregulation and upholding public safety. Citing the tragic Sewol ferry disaster, he cautioned against the dangers of prioritizing economic benefits over safety standards. This nuanced approach reflects a deep understanding of the complexities involved in governance, acknowledging that while deregulation can spur growth, it must be implemented with utmost care to prevent catastrophic consequences. From our perspective at the Hankyoreh, President Lee's call for active administration, coupled with his emphasis on safety, resonates with our ongoing commitment to holding power accountable while advocating for policies that genuinely serve the public interest and foster a more just and efficient society.

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If deregulation is pursued significantly for industrial and economic reasons, and a situation arises that threatens life and safety, you could be recorded as the worst president in history.