President Lee Sets "A Government That Saves Lives" as Policy Goal... "Protecting the People's Lives and Safety Is the State's Top Duty"

"Pursuing Policies to Protect Lives Across Finance, Labor, Welfare, and Public Safety"


Strengthening Major Accident Prevention Systems... Zero Tolerance for Illegal Lending and Stock Manipulation


Full Launch of the 'Just Dream Projec

The Lee Jae-myung administration has declared "a government that saves lives" as one of its core policy objectives, announcing its intention to pursue policies that protect the lives and safety of citizens across all areas of governance, including finance, labor, and welfare. The administration aims to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against illegal private lending and financial crime, and to prevent industrial accidents and expand the social safety net, so that no citizen has to give up on life due to debt, work, or livelihood issues.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House on the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News

At a briefing held at the Chunchugwan on the 17th, Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Presidential Spokesperson, stated, "At the Cabinet meeting on May 12, President Lee said, 'I hope our government will be known as a government that saves lives.' He reiterated at the Senior Secretary Meeting on the 14th that protecting the lives and safety of the people is the state's foremost duty." Kang explained that President Lee emphasized that all policies—in finance, welfare, labor, healthcare, disaster response, and other areas—are directly connected to the lives and well-being of the people. He stressed that every policy must begin with the consideration of citizens' lives and safety, and that a fundamental shift in awareness and behavior among public officials is necessary.

Kang, the Chief Spokesperson, said, "This clearly articulates the Lee Jae-myung administration’s governing philosophy that protecting the lives of the people is the foremost principle of state affairs," adding, "We are pursuing policies to protect the lives and livelihoods of citizens across all areas of governance, including labor, finance, welfare, and public safety."

In the financial sector, the government is prioritizing the eradication of illegal private lending and financial crime. Kang explained, "The government will respond with a zero-tolerance policy to illegal private lending practices such as usurious loans and unlawful debt collection. We will also thoroughly track down and strictly punish market-disrupting actions and financial crimes such as price manipulation and stock rigging." Support for financially vulnerable groups will also be strengthened. Kang stated, "We will realize 'life-saving finance' by establishing a robust system of inclusive financial support, including interest reduction, debt restructuring, and recovery assistance, so that no citizen has to give up on life because of debt."

In the labor sector, the focus is on strengthening systems to prevent major industrial accidents. Kang said, "We will enhance systems to prevent industrial accidents, overwork, and the outsourcing of dangerous work." She added, "For high-risk worksites such as construction, logistics, and chemical sectors, we will establish a supervision system centered on worker participation and prevention, so that anyone can work with peace of mind in a 'life-saving workplace'." In the welfare and healthcare sectors, the emphasis is on building a robust safety net. Kang explained, "We will realize 'life-saving welfare' by establishing a social safety net as dense as a web, including the introduction of a regional doctors system and the promotion of public medical schools."

The Blue House specifically highlighted the "Just Give Project," which will be fully implemented from May 18, as a flagship "life-saving welfare" policy. The Just Give Project is designed to allow citizens facing livelihood crises to receive immediate support with food and daily necessities. Kang said, "President Lee has repeatedly emphasized that the Just Give Project is a policy that guarantees the right to survival for those truly in need, and that its purpose must be faithfully implemented on the ground."

However, issues identified during the pilot phase will be addressed in the main rollout. Kang explained, "During the pilot operation conducted since last December, some areas experienced waiting lines due to open-run situations, and there were cases of use that did not align with the program’s intent. In the main phase, we plan to improve the operational system through regular inspections to prevent recurrence of previously identified inappropriate cases."

The usage process will be refined to a step-by-step consultation system. On the first visit, users will fill out a self-checklist and receive ample guidance on the program’s purpose and necessity. From the second use, welfare counseling will become mandatory to link users with existing welfare services, and from the third use, additional consultations will be provided by customized welfare teams at the local administration level. Continued use will only be allowed if ongoing support is deemed necessary.

Going forward, the government plans to expand the Just Give Project to more than 300 locations nationwide within the year. Kang said, "The government will further expand the Just Give Project to over 300 locations nationwide by the end of the year, to build a more prompt and thorough 'life-saving welfare' system." She also asked the public to use the service in line with its intended purpose. "We ask for the public’s attention so that those who are truly struggling, to the point of worrying about their next meal, can access the service first," she said.

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