President Lee Meets Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads: "Public Officials Have a Divine Role... Must Uphold Integrity and Transparent Administration" (Comprehensive)

National Briefing for Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads Held at the State Guest House of the Blue House
"Public Officials Are Different from Private Entrepreneurs"
"Local Autonomy Is the Foundation of Democracy"
Various Policy Proposals Including Activation of Local Currency, Local Income, and Renewable Energy Projects

President Lee Jaemyung stated at the 'National Briefing for Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads' held at the State Guest House of the Blue House on the 12th, "Local governments are the elementary schools of democracy and the foundation of national development," urging, "Please become public officials who genuinely use the authority and taxes entrusted by residents for the benefit of those residents."

Yonhap News Agency

The briefing was attended by Prime Minister Kim Minseok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yooncheol, Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojoong, as well as more than 160 mayors, county governors, and district heads from across the country. President Lee recalled his time as mayor of Seongnam, saying, "The happiest time I experienced was when I served as mayor," and added, "The most rewarding part was listening directly to residents and reflecting their voices in administration."

"Public Officials Have a Divine Role... Must Uphold Integrity and Transparent Administration"

President Lee stated, "A public official is different from a private entrepreneur. The word 'public' truly involves many people," emphasizing that by being a bit more attentive and allocating resources a bit more fairly, it is possible to reduce the number of people who end their lives in despair. He continued, "That, in itself, is giving new life."

President Lee particularly stressed, "Heads of local governments are the public officials closest to the residents," and said that checking one more storm drain on a rainy day, ensuring no neighbors go hungry, and preventing anyone from suffering injustice are truly divine acts.

He also called for integrity and fairness in administration. President Lee said, "All the authority and budget held by mayors, county governors, and district heads comes from the residents," and warned, "That authority must never be distorted for private gain or as a means of exercising power." He further stated, "I will thoroughly monitor to ensure that such things never happen," and added, "Please work with integrity and fairness."

President Lee repeatedly emphasized the importance of transparency in administration. He said, "The process must be made public so that the people can trust the administration. Broadcasting cabinet meetings live is well received by the public," adding, "Although it may be exhausting for those preparing, it changes the way people view government."

Yonhap News Agency

"Local Autonomy Is the Foundation of Democracy"

President Lee identified the roots of democracy in local autonomy. "Democracy is the driving force of national development, and its roots lie in local autonomy," he said. "As Tocqueville stated, local autonomy is the elementary school of democracy. Democracy grows where residents directly participate and experience it." President Lee emphasized, "Korea must move toward a new leap forward, and local governments are at the center of this. You are the force that protects the lives of residents and transforms the nation."

This was followed by the announcement of balanced growth and local preference policies, which are key national governance philosophies, as well as policy proposals from local governments. The proposals submitted on this day covered a range of topics, including the activation of local currency, local income, and renewable energy projects. Presidential Office spokesperson Kim Namjoon explained in a briefing, "President Lee instructed that the proposals raised should be reflected in national policy as much as possible."

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