President Lee Jae Myung speaks at a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung speaks at a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called on his government to pool its efforts to make this year "the first year of South Korea's leap toward becoming an irreplaceable nation" — one with a potential growth rate of 3 percent, a top-four standing in global trade and a per capita national income of $50,000.

Lee made the remarks while chairing a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, saying forecasts of real growth reaching 3 percent were coming in one after another, backed by strong earnings and rising capital investment.

"With semiconductors leading growth, exports of other items have also risen 16 percent from a year earlier," he said. "Breaking into the top four in world trade is no longer an impossible goal."

Lee also urged central and local governments to move quickly on the early realization of three major mega-projects recently announced by Cheong Wa Dae. "Approach this with the mindset that cutting one day now can save 10 or even 100 days later, and push the relevant procedures forward as fast as possible," he said.

He added that the results South Korea achieves in the second half of this year would shape the country's future for the next 30 years.

The Cabinet meeting approved a revision to government organization rules that would add 51 audit personnel across 24 ministries.

Regarding the expansion, Lee said the practice of local council members awarding discretionary contracts to their own companies, family members and acquaintances was rampant. "Correcting what is wrong is something that must be done as a matter of routine. The problem is that people don't know it's happening," he said.

"We need constant brainstorming and candid discussion with people on the ground," he said, adding that the decision to expand audit staffing stemmed from exactly that concern.

With the third anniversary of the Osong underpass disaster falling on Wednesday, Lee said North Chungcheong Province had announced it would actively hold a memorial event this year. "It is truly regrettable that it took three years for something so obvious to happen," he said. "I once again pray for the souls of the deceased and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families."

The North Chungcheong governorship shifted from the People Power Party to the Democratic Party of Korea after Shin Yong-han won the June 3 local elections.

Lee went on to direct officials to carefully review safety measures for vulnerable groups and high-risk areas, noting that extreme heat and heavy rain were forecast to alternate this week. "The state must always be thoroughly prepared for every disaster that threatens the lives and safety of the people," he said.

"Not even the smallest gap can ever be allowed when it comes to protecting people's lives," he added. "On matters of safety, too much is far better than too little."

Lee also called for swift follow-up action to build on the outcomes of last week's NATO summit and his state visit to Mongolia.

"This diplomatic schedule opened a new horizon for global cooperation in defense industries and advanced technology," he said, adding that significant progress had also been made in securing critical mineral supply chains.

He urged the relevant ministries to pursue follow-up measures swiftly so that the diplomatic gains would translate into tangible benefits for people's lives and the economy. "A more stable and peaceful world order must underpin South Korea's greater leap forward and sustained growth," he said.


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