President Lee Calls Lee Jae-yong, Choi Tae-won 'National Heroes' With 90-Degree Bow

President Lee Jae-myung publicly expressed gratitude Saturday to Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee and SK Group Chairman Tae-won Choi, who decided to make large-scale advanced technology investments in regions outside the greater Seoul area.

President Lee made the remarks at the "National Briefing on Korea's Three Mega-Projects for a Great Leap" hosted at the former presidential compound, Cheong Wa Dae, saying, "I would like to call the two of them heroes of the nation and the people."

"This is the starting point where a new history of Korea begins," President Lee said. "On behalf of the people, I pay my respects to the companies that made a difficult decision for the nation." He then bowed 90 degrees at the waist toward Chairman Lee and Chairman Choi, and the two chairmen also bowed their heads in return.

In business circles, the move is viewed as the government and companies firmly establishing a "one-team" stance to build an advanced industry ecosystem outside the greater Seoul area. President Lee's unconventional gesture is interpreted as intended to encourage corporate investment and maximize the mood for investment activation by creating a symbolic scene of public-private cooperation for the national interest.