South Korea’s new president Lee Jae-myung wasted no time addressing economic concerns, launching his first cabinet meeting with an urgent focus on reviving the economy and supporting struggling households.
Just a day after taking office, President Lee Jae-myung chaired his first cabinet meeting, emphasizing the need for swift action on economic recovery—a key promise from his campaign. Lee enters office amid political upheaval following former president Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law, which triggered his impeachment and public outrage.
Lee criticized the state of the presidential office, and pledged immediate stimulus spending of at least 30 trillion won ($22 billion) to counter sluggish growth. With South Korea’s economic forecast nearly halved this year, Lee and his nominated prime minister, Kim Min-seok, warn of a crisis deeper than the 1997 Asian financial crash. Meanwhile, unresolved issues with U.S. tariffs remain a looming challenge.
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