In a 100-Minute Press Conference Stripped of Humor, Lee Declares 'The People Are Always Right'
President Lee Jae-myung marked 15 months in office on September 18, 2026, by holding a roughly 100-minute press conference at the Cheong Wa Dae state guesthouse, where he reflected on his first 15 months in office and laid out his positions on key policy issues. The conference was held under the theme, "We will look more closely at the will of the people and the lives of the people." The event, originally scheduled for 10 a.m., began 30 minutes late at 10:30 a.m. as the president took time to refine his remarks. The press conference ended after 100 minutes, during which he fielded 14 questions.
In his opening remarks, President Lee admitted, "It is true that I was flustered when faced with the sudden public disappointment and concern that followed the local elections." He continued, "After long reflection and soul-searching, my conclusion is that 'the people are always right,' and everything is due to my own shortcomings," adding, "I should have approached my duties in a more humble, service-minded way." In his closing remarks, he said, "I am indeed lacking. Focusing on work and outcomes, I failed to be attentive to the details — and I have now come to painfully realize what a serious problem that is," pledging to "communicate more and show more respect."
During the Q&A session, he answered questions on pressing issues including dropping prosecutions, the deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, personnel matters, prosecution reform, and housing policy. His usual jokes were noticeably fewer. Topics such as improving the personnel vetting system, the controversy over re-nominating a Supreme Court justice, and U.S. pressure to build semiconductor plants were dispatched in just one to four sentences. When asked about the jeonse housing crisis and pressed on his past remark about abolishing the jeonse system, Lee responded, "I said it would disappear — when did I ever say it must be eliminated? I will replace it with something else." On the troop deployment issue, he said, "There will be no deployment involving or intervening in a war," adding that strengthening the Cheonghae unit was under review.
On the question of seeking re-election, he ruled it out flatly, saying that a second term through constitutional amendment is impossible and that he has no thoughts of re-election, while pledging to work toward constitutional reform in 1987-style. Regarding whether he would appoint Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, he reaffirmed a cautious stance, saying no final decision had been made, and closed the press conference.
Another distinctive feature of the conference was that Kang Yu-jung, senior presidential spokesperson, read out real-time public opinions. Critical comments such as "You must abandon the ambition to embrace everything" and "I advise you to talk less and listen more" were read aloud as submitted. The spokesperson also relayed to the president a question that came in as a comment: "I'm curious how you plan to win back the hearts of your traditional base — the so-called core supporters."
