"Welcome, Is This Your First Time at the Blue House?"... President Lee Holds Cabinet Meeting with Children

President Lee: "I Will Build a Country Where Children Can Pursue Their Dreams with Fair Opportunities"

First Children's Day Event Since Return of the Presidential Office to the Blue House... Sejong and Chungmu Rooms Opened

Children from Depo

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung invited around 200 children and their guardians to the Blue House on May 5 to celebrate the 104th Children's Day. The event, held under the name "Welcome, Is This Your First Time at the Blue House?", took place in and around the main building and the Green Garden of the Blue House. This was the first Children's Day event since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, and it was also the first such event since the presidential office returned to the Blue House, making it especially significant.

President Lee Jae-myung is declaring the opening at the Cabinet meeting experience event with children held as a Children's Day invitation event at the Blue House on May 5, 2026. Photo by Blue House Press Photographers Group, Yonhap News Agency

At the event, President Lee stated, "As president, I will fulfill my duty to ensure that our children can grow up in a safer environment," adding, "I will do my utmost to create a country where children can pursue their dreams, regardless of their circumstances, and take on new challenges based on fair opportunities."

Children from a variety of backgrounds were invited, including those living in areas at risk of population extinction, children from care facilities, children from single-parent and multicultural families, children with disabilities or rare diseases, and children living near the Blue House. Also present were children whom the presidential couple had met during past visits to child care facilities and welfare centers for the disabled, as well as children they became acquainted with during a meeting last year for families of children with rare diseases. The Blue House emphasized that this event was also about keeping their promise to "meet again."

The presidential couple welcomed the children alongside government promotional characters. They greeted the children with high-fives, and the children responded by saying, "It is amazing and exciting to meet the president in person," and "I wanted to see you."

The children toured the main building of the Blue House and listened to explanations about its history. The Sejong Room, where Cabinet meetings are held, and the Chungmu Room, which hosts various meetings and appointment ceremonies, were also open to the children. Meeting the children in the Sejong Room, President Lee said, "It is nice to meet you, the future of Korea," and explained, "I invited you to the Blue House, where the president works, with the hope that you will dream of a bright and hopeful future." He added, "This is a very important place where meetings are held to discuss and decide how to run the country."

Pointing to the seats where the children were sitting, President Lee encouraged their participation by saying, "Imagine you are each a minister and share what you would like to say." First Lady Kim also said, "I sincerely welcome you to the Blue House," adding, "I heard some of you were so excited you couldn't sleep last night. I hope you ask the president all the questions you are curious about and have a wonderful day."

The children asked a variety of questions, such as "When is the Cabinet meeting held?", "Why is Children's Day on May 5?", and "When will Korea be unified?" Many children raised their hands saying they wanted to become president, giving reasons such as "I want to freely explore the Blue House," "I want to make Korea a peaceful country," and "I want to build many libraries."

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are taking a commemorative photo with children attending the Children's Day invitation event at the Blue House main building on May 5. 2026.5.5 [Photo by Blue House Press Photographers] Yonhap News Agency

When one child asked, "How did you become president?", President Lee replied, "Who owns this country? It is the people," and explained, "The president is someone chosen by the people to work hard for the country." He added, "Anyone can become president if they prepare diligently and earn recognition by working sincerely for the people."

The free conversation between the presidential couple and the children continued in the Chungmu Room. When asked, "What does the president do?", President Lee responded, "The president is someone who considers ways for everyone—including you, your parents, and your neighbors—to live better, and decides how best to use taxes." When asked, "Is being president easy?", President Lee replied, "It is very difficult, but there are things that must be done," and added, "Isn't it true that students also have to study even when it's tough?"

Afterward, the presidential couple moved to the Green Garden to spend playtime with the children. On the way, First Lady Kim asked one child about their dream, who answered, "I want to become a rapper," and then performed a song they had created. On this day, the Green Garden was transformed into a one-day amusement park for Children's Day, featuring rides such as swing chairs, spinning airplanes, and air bounce, as well as various programs like cupcake making, hand-washing experiences, and Blue House keyring making.

The presidential couple also joined the children in a keycap-making experience and face painting. When the children saw the drawings on the backs of the presidential couple's hands, they responded, "It's beautiful," "It suits you well," and "Please do the same for me." President Lee personally signed autographs for each child and delivered messages of encouragement such as "Make your dreams come true," "I love you," and "You will become a wonderful announcer."

The presidential couple also watched a demonstration performance by the Army Taekwondo Demonstration Team. They observed the children playing and expressed their gratitude to the parents and teachers who strive to help children grow up healthy and strong. The presidential couple remarked, "Today, the Blue House has become a space filled with children's laughter."

President Lee Jae-myung is taking a commemorative photo after experiencing keycap making with the attending children at the Children's Day invitation event held at the Green Garden of the Blue House on the 5th. 2026.5.5 Photo by Blue House News Photographers Group Yonhap News Agency

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post titled "On the Occasion of the 104th Children's Day" that President Lee shared on the same day, he emphasized respect for children. He stated, "I will not see children merely as objects of protection or adorable beings, but will respect them as individuals with dignity and personality," adding, "I will continue to work to become an adult who upholds the dignity of children."

President Lee said, "Children are not lacking or immature; they simply need a bit more time than adults," and continued, "Each child learns and grows at their own pace, and understands the world in their own way as a complete individual." He also stated, "I will do my best to create a society where every day of the year, not just today, feels like Children's Day for our children, who are the future of Korea. I sincerely wish for their continued health." President Lee and First Lady Kim plan to deliver personalized "Hope Bakery" gifts to children suffering from aplastic anemia through the Korea Aplastic Anemia Patients’ Association on Children's Day.

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