President Lee’s Korea Policy Daily

[Presidential Briefing] President Lee Jae-myung Holds First Phone Call with Emir of Qatar (July 22, 2025) 📞 President Lee's First Official Dialogue with Middle East Leader On July 22, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea held his first official phone call with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar. This conversation marked the beginning of a new phase in South Korea–Middle East diplomacy under the Lee administration. President Lee expressed appreciation for the Emir’s congratulations and praised Qatar’s development efforts under his leadership. Both leaders agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship beyond traditional cooperation, expanding into digital industries, national defense, infrastructure, and sports diplomacy. 🌐 Strategic Expansion Beyond Energy Traditionally, Korea-Qatar cooperation focused on LNG and plant construction. However, the two nations now aim to broaden collaboration into AI, smart cities, and high-value technology sectors....

[Presidential Briefing] Key Highlights from the 32nd Cabinet Meeting Chaired by President Lee Jae-myung (July 22, 2025) 📢 Summary of the Meeting On the morning of July 22, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung presided over the 32nd Cabinet Meeting. Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung delivered a comprehensive briefing outlining the key discussions and directives issued during the session. A total of 20 items were reviewed, including 1 legislative bill, 18 presidential decree proposals, and 1 general agenda item. Alongside the formal decisions, President Lee issued important remarks during a closed-door session. 🌐 Reassessment of Foreign Aid Programs President Lee ordered a thorough review of Korea’s international aid projects, stating that some initiatives were “difficult to justify” despite costing billions annually. He requested a report evaluating whether each program aligns with Korea’s diplomatic and national interest objectives. 🎮 Regulation of Randomized In-Game Items...

[Presidential Briefing] Presidential Secretary for National Unity Kang Joon-wook Resigns Voluntarily (July 22, 2025) 📢 Official Announcement from Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung On July 22, 2025, South Korea's Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung announced that Kang Joon-wook, the Secretary for National Unity, voluntarily submitted his resignation earlier that morning. This position was newly created under President Lee Jae-myung’s administration to symbolize the importance of unity in overcoming national crises. Kang was appointed through recommendations from the conservative bloc, reflecting the President’s intent to embrace citizens regardless of political affiliation. 🔍 Background of the Resignation Despite the symbolic nature of the appointment, public criticism emerged shortly after Kang took office. Many questioned whether he aligned with the principles of the people-centered government President Lee had envisioned. Civil society and media raised concer...

[Presidential Briefing] President Lee Jae-myung Withdraws Appeal in KBS President Dismissal Case (July 21, 2025) 📢 Key Briefing by Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung On July 21, 2025, Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung officially announced that President Lee Jae-myung had withdrawn the government's appeal in the dismissal lawsuit of former KBS President Kim Eui-cheol. According to the briefing, “President Lee submitted the appeal withdrawal to the appellate court handling the case on July 20,” signifying the administration’s respect for judicial decisions and its intention to correct the prior administration’s wrongful action. The initial case stemmed from former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s dismissal of Kim Eui-cheol during his term. On January 16, 2025, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled that “the dismissal was a misuse and abuse of discretion and therefore invalid.” 🗣️ President Lee's Message: “Respect for Court Decisions, Restoration of Public Broadcast...

Briefing on Chief Presidential Secretary Meeting (July 21, 2025) 📌 Summary of the Briefing by Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung On the afternoon of July 21, 2025, a meeting of senior presidential aides was held, presided over by Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik. Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung provided a briefing detailing the discussions, recent natural disaster responses, and upcoming government plans. 💬 “A Week That Highlighted Our Helplessness Before Nature” Chief Secretary Kang began by reflecting on the impact of the recent heavy rains, stating that "the past week has reminded us how powerless we are before nature" and emphasizing that in such times of crisis, the government must act as the last line of defense to protect its citizens. He urged swift recovery actions to provide solace to those affected by the floods. 🛠️ Ministers Actively Engaged in Field Responses Kang emphasized the administration’s on-site response: Prime Minister Kim Min-seok...