Unprecedented Acting Deputy Prime Minister System... Lee Juho Vows "Communication with National Assembly, Stable Governance" (Comprehensive)

Lee Juho Assumes Dual Roles as Acting President and Prime Minister from Midnight on the 2nd
Will Lead State Affairs for About a Month Until Presidential Election... "A Heavy Sense of Responsibility"
Stresses "Stable Governance" on First Commute... "State Affairs Managed by System"
Concerns Over Economic Response... Likely to Focus on Social Stability for the Next Month

On the 2nd, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Juho, who also serves as Minister of Education, stated, "I will communicate with the National Assembly to ensure stable governance." Beginning at midnight on this day, Lee assumed the unprecedented dual role of acting as both President and Prime Minister, and will be in charge of state affairs for about a month until the election of a new president on June 3.

On his first commute as Acting President that morning, Lee said, "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility as I take on this significant duty," expressing his commitment to the role.

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Juho, who is also the Minister of Education, is arriving at the Government Seoul Office on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

On May 1, with both former Acting President and Prime Minister Han Ducksoo and former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sangmok stepping down simultaneously, Lee, as fourth in the order of state affairs, has taken on the roles of both President and Prime Minister. With the positions of President, Prime Minister, and even Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs vacant, the Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs is now performing three roles at once?an unprecedented situation.

The official title is "Acting President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Education." Just four months ago, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs was the "acting of the acting," and now the Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs is the "acting of the acting of the acting."

Lee's first message focused on "stable governance." He stated, "I believe state affairs are managed by a system," and added, "I will do my utmost to ensure stable governance by communicating fully with the National Assembly and thoroughly discussing matters with cabinet members."

However, concerns remain. Although Lee is an economist who graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Trade and completed graduate studies in economics at Seoul National University before earning a Ph.D. in economics from Cornell University in the United States, his experience has been limited to the field of education, having served as Minister of Education during both the Lee Myungbak and Yoon Sukyeol administrations. For this reason, there are concerns that he may lack the ability to make swift decisions in economic and trade matters, especially in light of the all-encompassing pressure from the newly inaugurated Donald Trump administration in the United States. However, in the economic sector, the Vice Minister of Economy and Finance is serving as acting minister, so the existing policy direction is expected to be maintained.

Given that this transition of power stems from the impeachment of the president, communication with the National Assembly may prove difficult. As the Democratic Party of Korea is attempting a series of impeachments to prevent the president from exercising veto power, Lee himself could face the threat of impeachment at any time. For this reason, political analysts believe that Lee’s authority will inevitably be limited. With only about a month remaining until the 6·3 early presidential election, the National Assembly remains under the control of the Democratic Party.

The emergency directives Lee issued to all ministries at midnight also focused on "the basics." Regarding national security, he instructed the acting Minister of National Defense to "maintain the military’s vigilance and readiness thoroughly, and raise the preparedness level to the highest so that any provocation can be met swiftly and decisively." To the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he urged, "Work closely with key allied countries to maintain the trust of the international community, and respond thoroughly to ensure there are no gaps in managing diplomatic issues."

In the context of the early presidential election, Lee emphasized inter-ministerial cooperation to ensure the election is conducted fairly and orderly. To the acting Minister of the Interior and Safety, he said, "Make every effort to maintain public order and thoroughly manage public safety to prevent public anxiety, while also providing all necessary support for election preparations without any shortcomings." He also instructed the acting Minister of Economy and Finance to "be fully prepared to respond to fluctuations in financial markets and minimize economic uncertainty, given the severe internal and external economic conditions."

At the emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting he presided over immediately after arriving at work, Lee again stressed the importance of strengthening security through inter-ministerial communication. He said, "It is a time when the NSC must make every effort to safeguard the nation and ensure the safety of our territory, so that the public has no reason to worry about security," and added, "There must not be even the slightest gap in any area?diplomacy, security, defense, or the economy." He continued, "I hope that all ministries and agencies, as well as overseas missions, will not only manage crises meticulously but also devote themselves to proactive work. All ministries and agencies must consider themselves the final bastion of national security, and above all, under the spirit of prioritizing the national interest and working as one team, I ask that you give your utmost effort until the very end."

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Juho, who is also the Minister of Education, is arriving at the Government Seoul Office on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.