President Lee outlines second-year goals: Inclusive growth, global power status

President Lee Jae-myung has declared his administration's national goals for its second year, aiming to transform South Korea into a "super-gap" industrial nation where growth opportunities and benefits are shared by all citizens and regions.

During his first-anniversary press conference, Lee presented four key objectives. He stressed the importance of consolidating government and private sector capabilities to secure overwhelming competitiveness in cutting-edge technology sectors. Beyond semiconductors, the administration will continuously identify and nurture "global super-gap growth engines" to serve as South Korea's next major industries.

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We will move forward as a super-gap industrial powerhouse where all citizens and the entire nation equally enjoy the opportunities and benefits of growth.

"Crucially, the fruits of growth must not remain confined to specific companies, regions, or sectors," Lee stated. He emphasized that the benefits of collective national effort should extend to small and medium-sized enterprises, spread across the entire country, and be tangibly felt by all citizens in their daily lives. To this end, he announced that large-scale investment projects, designed to achieve a "transformative shift in growth strategy," will soon be unveiled.

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Crucially, the fruits of growth must not remain confined to specific companies, regions, or sectors. The opportunities and benefits of achievements made with the collective strength of the community should flow to small and venture businesses, spread evenly across our land and all sectors, leading to changes that all citizens can feel in their lives.

Lee also reaffirmed his commitment to advancing South Korea as a global diplomatic and security power, safeguarding the peace and pride of its people. He pledged to work towards concrete outcomes from achievements made over the past year, including revisions to the South Korea-U.S. nuclear energy agreement, the acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine, and the pursuit of early recovery of wartime operational control.

Furthermore, the president vowed to build a "normal society" where universally agreed-upon norms and rules are strictly observed. This includes decisively cracking down on market-disrupting crimes like stock manipulation and real estate fraud, and steadfastly implementing structural reforms to dismantle privilege. He also committed to strengthening the "social safety net" to protect citizens' lives and ensure dignified living, promising proactive and meticulous administration that covers everything from life-saving financial support and safe workplaces to a welfare system that leaves no one behind and crime-free streets.

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We will move forward as a global diplomatic and security power that protects the peace and pride of all citizens.