President Lee Jae-myung emphasized on the 6th that "we must accelerate the normalization of seven major irregularities, including drug crimes, public corruption, voice phishing, illegal real estate activities, high-value tax delinquency, stock manipulation, and serious industrial disasters." While he has previously mentioned normalizing capital and real estate markets on multiple occasions, this marks the first time he has specifically identified these seven areas as "irregularities" and called for institutional reforms.
At the senior secretaries' meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee stated, "We must end this era of abnormality where following the rules actually puts you at a disadvantage." He added forcefully, "We must establish the perception that those caught seeking illicit gains will face ruin so severe that recovery becomes impossible."
President Lee particularly addressed the recent surge in gasoline prices for the second consecutive day, emphasizing that "we must respond firmly and decisively to antisocial wrongdoing that exploits community hardships for unjust profiteering, like price gouging on fuel." Prior to the meeting, he also took aim at possible price collusion in the oil industry on social media, warning, "We will teach unscrupulous companies that disrupt the national economic order that 'you reap what you sow.'"
With President Lee personally presenting the "seven major irregularities," sanctions and penalties in related areas are expected to intensify.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong said in a briefing that "President Lee reviewed the legislative progress on the Real Estate Supervisory Service and emphasized the need to expand response personnel as tax evasion methods become increasingly sophisticated." She also explained that he reviewed the achievements of the joint stock manipulation response team, noting that "it is desirable to reduce damage from financial crimes such as voice phishing through executive orders if necessary."
The President reaffirmed his hardline stance on serious industrial disasters, an issue he has emphasized since taking office. He called for strengthened penalties, stating, "We need substantial sanctions such as penalty surcharges, not just administrative fines." He also instructed officials to review and report on improvements regarding casualties from "black ice" road conditions during winter.
Regarding drug crime response, he emphasized that "forensic capabilities must be advanced through R&D investment," and on public corruption, he added that "autonomy and accountability must be strengthened simultaneously."
This emphasis on comprehensive enforcement and strengthened penalties is interpreted as an effort to preemptively block the potential impact of external risks, such as the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, on the domestic economy and society. President Lee stressed, "In critical times like these, we must preemptively manage and block threatening factors," adding, "We will mobilize all available policy measures."
