President Lee Jae-myung marked his first year in office on Monday by laying out a vision to make South Korea "irreplaceable" on the world stage, pledging progress on the economy, diplomacy, national security and public safety. Speaking at a press conference at the former presidential compound's Yeongbingwan guesthouse, Lee said the goal was a country "that no other country in the world can replace."
"I will make this year the beginning of a bold dream for an irreplaceable Republic of Korea," Lee said, framing his second year as a shift from stabilising his administration to delivering on long-term ambitions. It was his fourth formal press conference since taking office on June 8, 2025, following the snap election triggered by the removal of his predecessor.
Lee set out several signature aims: for South Korea to become the first country to fully weave artificial intelligence into its industry and daily life, a leading partner for nations seeking self-reliant defence, and the most exemplary nation in the energy transition among countries without their own oil. He also called for the most efficient use of national territory.
On the economy, Lee said his government would "constantly discover and nurture" new growth engines beyond semiconductors, the export mainstay that has powered recent gains, while managing the public finances that depend heavily on chip-sector revenue. Persistent concerns about the cost of living and stagnant real wages have shadowed his first year despite a buoyant stock market.
He pointed to foreign-policy gains including a revision of the South Korea-U.S. civil nuclear energy agreement, efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, and steps toward the earlier return of wartime operational control of South Korean forces from the United States. Lee has sought to balance the alliance with Washington against a push to restore frayed ties with China.
The president also confronted a domestic stumble, acknowledging the ballot shortages that disrupted the June 3 local elections. He called for "fundamental measures" to prevent a repeat, saying the episode had led him to question whether he had lacked "sensitivity to sovereignty."
Days earlier, Lee nominated Han Seong-sook, a former Naver chief executive, to be his next prime minister. If confirmed by the National Assembly, she would become only the second woman to hold the post, a choice the president cast as part of his drive to make South Korea a leader in technology and AI.
Lee enters his second year with relatively strong public approval but a crowded agenda, balancing industrial policy, an uneasy regional security environment and pressure to lift household incomes as he seeks to convert early momentum into lasting change.