Vested Interests of Individual Organizations Are Blocking Public Institution Reform
President Lee Jae Myung stressed the pace of reform regarding public institution reform at the Cabinet Council held at the presidential office in Yongsan on the 10th, saying, "In no case should the vested interests of individual organizations be allowed to block reforms for the people and the community as a whole." At the meeting, he also reviewed the structural reform of public institutions, strict responses to crime and corruption, and the strengthening of digital government public relations.
President Lee noted, "At a time when we face the challenges of industrial transformation and balanced regional development, innovation in the public sector is a core national and historical task that can no longer be delayed." He urged, "While there will be inconvenience for members of each organization, I ask that you consider the people and the country a little more." President Lee called on each ministry and agency to do their utmost to reform the public institutions under their jurisdiction, instructing, "Since speed is the key factor determining the success or failure of reform, please also actively consider drastic incentives to achieve rapid structural reform." His remarks came amid some backlash over plans to merge and downsize public institutions and relocate them to provincial regions. According to presidential spokesperson Kim Sung-hwan's written briefing, President Lee said at the closed-door session, "While each institution may have its own circumstances, please expedite the public institution reform effort based on principles."
President Lee emphasized at the Cabinet Council that government-wide capabilities must be concentrated on responding to crimes. Referring to dating violence, online scams, drugs, illegal private lending, fake news, real estate fraud, and local corruption, he said, "We must respond sternly so that the perception takes root that getting caught leads to total ruin."
President Lee Jae Myung cited cases of physical resistance to law enforcement, such as obstructing eviction enforcement in redevelopment areas or inserting unlawful occupants, and asked, "If they mobilize numbers and use physical force to interfere, isn't that obstruction of special official duties? Why is that being tolerated?" He instructed the police, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the Ministry of Justice to "check and report on the actual conditions of all unlawful coercion and violations of legal order across the country."
President Lee received a briefing from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on government public relations at the closed-door session and pointed out, "The spread of false information is intensifying social conflict around the world," calling for the strengthening of digital public relations that actively promotes accurate information and corrects false and distorted information.
