President Lee Jae-myung said, "Tomorrow marks the 500th day since the inauguration of our government of popular sovereignty," adding, "We will unswervingly follow the path of improving people's livelihoods, practical reform, and inclusive integration, without yielding to any external headwinds or resistance."

President Lee made the remarks while presiding over a senior aides meeting at the Blue House on that day, stating, "The Republic of Korea stands at the crossroads of a massive great transition, and it is precisely at times like this that we must heed the will of the people with an even lower posture."

Remarks regarding social and economic policies followed.

"Our economy is achieving remarkable results across multiple sectors. If current trends continue, there is a high likelihood that we will surpass $40,000 in per capita national income this year, becoming the sixth country with a population of over 50 million to do so," President Lee assessed. "However, despite the stellar performance in key indicators, the pace of livelihood recovery expected by the public remains slow."

He continued, "Difficulties in the actual lives of the people do not feel as if they have improved. Now is the time to make all-out efforts so that the achievements of the overall national economy translate into tangible fruits in the lives of individual citizens."

In particular, President Lee instructed, "Among these, the government must concentrate its capabilities on housing, jobs, and financial issues, which are the very foundation of people's livelihoods. We must accelerate housing supply based on actual demand across life stages and swiftly implement national job projects, encompassing measures to create jobs in both private and public sectors."

He also repeatedly emphasized, "Please pay special attention to supplying policy funds, supporting interest rate cuts, and providing tailored debt adjustments so that we can wisely overcome the waves of interest rate hikes," adding, "The Blue House and the government must make these 'three key social policies' their top national agenda for the remainder of this year and make every effort so that the warmth of growth spreads evenly across society as a whole."

At the same time, President Lee called for action, saying, "While expanding existing policies is important, please also discover new policies."

Mentioning that the term of newly appointed Chief of Staff Lim Gwang-hyun began that day, President Lee asked the staff, "Please hold thorough discussions centering on the Chief of Staff and contemplate how the Blue House can contribute to a better future for the Republic of Korea."

He added, "Reflecting on the fact that your time is an opportunity granted by the public, please do not forget that one hour of your time holds the value of 52 million hours. Do your best in your duties without forgetting the weighty calling of taking responsibility for the lives of the people and the nation's future."

In response, Chief of Staff Lim shared his thoughts, saying, "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility upon taking on this critical post. I will dedicate all my efforts to assisting the President to deliver tangible results so that the lives of the public improve."

During the meeting held in the morning that day, Chief of Staff Lim said, "The Blue House is the place that must accept the public's warnings first and foremost with the greatest gravity," and "If we work solely for the people, the public will also recognize the government's achievements," according to a written briefing by Kang Yu-jung, senior spokesperson for the Blue House.

As his first directive, Chief of Staff Lim instructed that an 'anonymous suggestion channel' be set up in the Chief of Staff's office so that candid advice for the nation and people's livelihoods can be delivered regardless of rank, and that measures be prepared to listen to candid input from ministry working-level officials and outside experts alike.

(Photo: Yonhap News)