President Lee: "Poverty Can Be Endured, but Injustice Cannot... Policy Execution Must Be Fair"

▲ President Lee Jae-myung speaks at a Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House on September 29.

President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the importance of fairness in policy implementation, saying, "There is an old saying that poverty can be endured, but injustice cannot."

President Lee made the remarks during the 41st Cabinet meeting he presided over at the Blue House today (September 29), pointing out that complaints could arise because traditional market discount support applies to only about 300 markets rather than all of them.

Regarding the policy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyung-il explained the situation, saying, "We expanded the number from 200 markets last year to 300, and the markets also need to have the systems prepared."

In response, President Lee raised the need for improvements, asking, "If it applies only to a handful of large traditional markets because of system issues, wouldn't the other markets feel left out?"

He continued, "From an administrative standpoint, there may be valid reasons for deciding things this way, but on the ground, people might feel wronged, asking, 'Why not our market?' While those handling the administration can simply manage the total volume, if execution is unfair or uneven, there is bound to be a great deal of grievance and dissatisfaction."

Furthermore, President Lee asked, "Isn't the same true when conducting farmland inspections?" stressing that it is vital to ensure the public perceives the enforcement process as fair.

President Lee added, "Our goal is to crack down on people who declare that they will farm, purchase land, and leave it neglected while waiting for land prices to rise, use it for improper purposes, or engage in real estate speculation—not to penalize elderly people who find it difficult to farm and have entrusted their land to a neighbor, isn't it?"

He also noted, "These aspects must be properly explained. If we simply enforce rules with unconditional severity, the original purpose becomes distorted and we cannot accomplish what needs to be done."

Citing an example, President Lee said, "When I served as mayor of Seongnam, the hardest thing was parking enforcement. If you enforce it strictly by the book, people cannot live their daily lives, but if you don't enforce it at all, they can't live either. It must be done in moderation, but finding that 'moderation' is very difficult." He then urged officials, "Administration requires a lot of care. Please pay close attention."

(Photo courtesy of Blue House Press Photo Corps, Yonhap News)

※