Ministers, FSC chairman, presidential aide attend

Forum to coordinate cross-ministry economic issues

Meeting format announced during confirmation process

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyung-il visits Dongjak Fire Station in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on Sunday to inspect fire safety and emergency rescue readiness during the Chuseok holiday. [Ministry of Economy and Finance]
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyung-il visits Dongjak Fire Station in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on Sunday to inspect fire safety and emergency rescue readiness during the Chuseok holiday. [Ministry of Economy and Finance]

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyung-il on Sunday convened the first "Economic Issues Consultative Meeting" of his tenure, bringing together related ministries and Cheong Wa Dae for the inaugural session. The agenda centered on electric vehicle industry policy and reforms to the retirement pension system.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Lee chaired the meeting Sunday afternoon. Attendees included Minister of Climate, Environment and Energy Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon, Minister of Planning and Budget Park Hong-keun, Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Shin-hak, FSC Chairman Lee Eok-won and Presidential Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Jun-kyung.

Participants exchanged views on the direction of electric vehicle industry policy and measures to improve the retirement pension system. The government plans to finalize its specific policy positions after further inter-ministry consultations and public input.

The Economic Issues Consultative Meeting is a forum Lee announced he would establish during his confirmation process. It is modeled on the former "green room meetings," informal sessions in which the deputy prime minister coordinated major economic issues with relevant ministers, and is designed to resolve cross-ministry matters in a single setting.

The ministry said it plans to convene the forum whenever needed to coordinate economic policies requiring inter-agency discussion.

Lee also visited Dongjak Fire Station in Seoul on Sunday to review special alert duty arrangements during the Chuseok holiday.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said that "thanks to firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel and many others who quietly held their posts during the holiday, the public was able to enjoy a safer and more comfortable break," adding that "the government will always remain vigilant and do its utmost to ensure there are no gaps in protecting the safety of the people."


kwater@heraldcorp.com