President Lee Jae-myung assured South Koreans on Sunday that the government is fully prepared for any fallout from the Middle East crisis, as he arrived in Singapore for a state visit.
"The international situation is unstable, but the public need not worry at all," Lee posted on X, formerly Twitter, after landing in the city-state. "The cabinet, including Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, is thoroughly prepared in all areas including the real economy, finance, and military security."
The reassurance came after U.S. and Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on Iran on April 28 local time, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The death has heightened uncertainty across the Middle East.
Lee embarked on a four-day, three-night trip to Singapore and the Philippines on Sunday. He noted that the presidential office is also maintaining an emergency posture.
"All secretaries under Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik are maintaining an emergency system and preparing for every possible scenario," Lee said. "We are a great Korean people who overcame even an insurrection. Now we have a government of popular sovereignty created by those great Korean people."
Lee urged citizens to "feel secure, enjoy daily life, and focus on their livelihoods," adding: "The Republic of Korea can do it. The Korean people can do it!"
The presidential office said Lee received a briefing on the Iran situation before departure and ordered officials to provide regular updates on Middle East developments and their economic impact during his trip. He specifically instructed authorities to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals abroad. The prime minister was tasked with maintaining an emergency response system across relevant ministries during the president's absence.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Khamenei's death on his social media platform Truth Social, calling it "justice for all Americans and victims worldwide who were killed or maimed by Khamenei and his bloodthirsty gang of thugs."
Iran's government confirmed the supreme leader's death and declared 40 days of mourning along with one week of public holidays. Iranian state media reported that multiple family members, including Khamenei's daughter, grandchildren, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law, were also killed in the strikes.