'Uncle Jae-myung~'... President Lee Responds to Children's Worries About Survival Swimming, Academies, and Field Trips

On the occasion of the 104th Children's Day, President Lee Jae-myung engaged directly with the nation's youth through a heartfelt video message, demonstrating a commitment to listening and responding to their concerns. Shared across platforms like YouTube and social media, the video showcased President Lee addressing a range of questions submitted by children, from aspirations of becoming a role model to anxieties about mandatory survival swimming classes and the disappointment of canceled school trips.

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Role model? Oh, I'm honored. I'll try even harder to truly be a role model. Thank you.

President Lee's responses were marked by empathy and a genuine desire to connect. When a young admirer expressed a wish for him to be a role model, he humbly accepted, promising to work harder. He acknowledged the necessity of survival swimming but reassured children that the skills learned would be beneficial. Addressing the poignant issue of canceled school trips and outings, he empathized with their frustration and pledged to work towards creating safer environments for such activities, recognizing the challenges faced by both students and teachers.

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You still have to do it, but it will be a great help someday even if it's difficult.

Further demonstrating his attentiveness, President Lee responded to a child's humorous request to make Saturdays red days on the calendar, akin to Sundays, to avoid attending cram schools. While acknowledging the difficulty of immediate change, he promised to strive for such a future and expressed understanding for the pressures children face with their academic schedules. He also gently corrected a child's phrasing from 'our country' to 'our nation,' highlighting the importance of national identity with a warm smile.

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You're right, aren't you? We need to go on picnics and school trips. It seems our teachers are having a very hard time. We will prepare well so that friends and teachers can go without burden and safely.

In a broader message accompanying the video, President Lee penned a reflective piece emphasizing his commitment to treating children not merely as dependents but as individuals with inherent dignity. He vowed to be an 'adult of dignity' who upholds the dignity of children and pledged to work towards creating a society where every day feels like Children's Day, not just a single occasion. This initiative, which included inviting children and their guardians to the Blue House for a special event, underscores the administration's focus on fostering a child-centric environment. From our perspective at Hankyoreh, President Lee's direct engagement with children reflects a modern approach to leadership, prioritizing open communication and addressing the real-world concerns of the younger generation. It’s a refreshing departure from traditional, top-down communication, showing a willingness to be present and responsive to the voices of the future.

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It seems you're having a hard time attending cram school. Please endure just a little longer.