Lee vows 'blitzkrieg' on housing supply, says residential stability key to governance

President chairs Cabinet meeting, again urges rapid housing supply

Lee offers condolences to family of fallen firefighter

Newly appointed serious crimes chief attends meeting

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

President Lee Jae Myung again called for a "blitzkrieg" approach to housing supply at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

Presiding over the session at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee directed officials not to be bound by existing practices and procedures, ordering them to cut as much time as possible from land development through the various permits and approvals required before ground-breaking.

Lee said what matters is not simply announcing how many homes will be built, but actual ground-breaking and move-in, and called for housing supply that people can feel in their daily lives.

He also urged the government to accelerate the supply of public rental housing for young people and the middle class. "We must pay special attention to the rapid supply of high-quality public rental housing for youth and the middle class through active fiscal management," Lee said.

With move-ins at the third-generation new towns set to become a reality starting with Incheon's Gyeyang district in December, Lee said the government must also hasten housing supply in other new towns. "Please make all-out efforts with the resolve that the success or failure of state affairs hinges on residential stability," he said.

Lee also referenced the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, whose funeral was held Monday, saying the government must carefully overhaul systems and infrastructure across society "so that we can be a government that saves even one more life."

"The Korean people will remember Fire Lt. Kim, who devoted his life to protecting the lives and safety of the public," Lee said. "From now on, the state will be family and a strong pillar of support for the bereaved. I hope the injured firefighters make a full recovery."

He added that threats to the lives and safety of citizens exist throughout everyday life, as the tragic accident showed, and that the state has a duty to protect people's daily lives from all such threats.

President Lee Jae Myung enters a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday alongside Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and Chief of Staff Lim Gwang-hyeon. [Yonhap]

Also attending Tuesday's Cabinet meeting was Kim Ji-yong, director of the newly established Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, who received his appointment certificate Monday.

Lee told Kim that the prosecutorial reform — which fully separates investigation from indictment and places the Public Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency under different ministries — was now institutionally complete. "As the agency makes a fresh start as an independent body for investigating serious crimes, a new sense of resolve and commitment is needed," Lee said.

Lee went on to say he hoped the agency would prove its worth and necessity to the public by mobilizing all investigative resources without regard for political affiliation and without any sacred cows, to sternly punish serious crimes — including white-collar offenses, power-abuse corruption, and securities and financial crimes — that destroy people's lives and undermine social order.

Kim, in his remarks, said he would work to successfully establish the agency, complete the prosecutorial reform and do his utmost to protect the rights of the public.

Meanwhile, Lee shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, linking to a report that South Korea's potential growth rate had risen for two consecutive years for the first time in 40 years. "This is welcome news," he wrote. "It is time to build on this improved underlying strength so that the fruits of growth can be shared equally among all citizens."

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