Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Wednesday that "it is not coincidence but destiny that political scientists around the world have nominated Korean citizens for the Nobel Peace Prize."
Kim made the remarks at a "K-Government Briefing" held at Gyeyang Culture Center in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, at the invitation of the Democratic Party of Korea's Incheon chapter.
"With elections just days away, we live in an era when completely absurd fake news and deepfakes can be spread to throw the world and elections into chaos," he said. "Korea has a calling to protect democracy in the AI era—to figure out how we will defend democracy."
"Many countries around the world see Korea as having a role to lead AI-era democracy and foster international cooperation," he added. "K-Democracy has reached a stage where it can lead global democracy in the AI era."
While explaining government achievements, the prime minister noted that "even the presidential chief of staff is working hard." He added, "The chief of staff is working on defense industry matters, and I've been told good news will keep coming."
Regarding the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared the Trump administration's reciprocal tariff measures "unlawful," Kim said, "That decision does not collapse the entire negotiation framework." He added, "We will protect the current framework while wisely assessing the changed situation to safeguard national interests going forward."
"President Lee Jae-myung is doing really well, so I will keep working hard—as long as I don't get fired," Kim said with a laugh. "As long as I don't get fired, I will continue to do my best."
The event was attended by Democratic Party lawmakers including Park Chan-dae and Kim Kyo-heung, both expected to run for Incheon mayor in the June 3 local elections, as well as Representatives Park Sun-won, Noh Jong-myeon, and Heo Jong-sik. Kim Nam-jun, former presidential spokesperson and prospective candidate for the Gyeyang-eul by-election, and Ko Nam-seok, chairman of the Democratic Party's Incheon chapter, were also present. Former party leader Song Young-gil, who has been mentioned as a potential candidate for Gyeyang-eul, did not attend.