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President Lee Jae-myung praised Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on the 30th as "a prime minister who saved the lives of the people." The remarks were seen as commending Kim, who attended his final cabinet meeting, and as lending support given his planned bid in the party convention.
At a cabinet meeting and emergency economic review held at Cheong Wa Dae that day, President Lee called it "a somewhat special day," adding, "It seems the prime minister will soon be replaced unless there are special circumstances, and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, you have worked very hard all this time." Lee emphasized, "You were truly a great help in state affairs and led the overall direction so well," adding, "Our government has produced various achievements, and I think that the role of the prime minister, together with our cabinet members, was the greatest in that."
When President Lee invited him to say a few words, Prime Minister Kim said, "It was truly an honor to work for the first year alongside the president and fellow cabinet members in a government created by the people," adding, "It was truly something to be grateful for, to have warned against martial law, fought against insurrection, and then come to work in the government."
Kim also said, "There were many rewarding things for me. Successfully hosting APEC, attracting a global AI hub, the return of medical students, clearing insurrection from the administration, reducing suicides, and integrating Gwangju and South Jeolla to lead large corporations to decide on major regional investments — I feel great reward in all these processes and achievements," and added, "There remain problems for the government to solve, such as addressing the lives of young people, and I will return to the National Assembly and the party to continue this work." He went on, "What I especially want to say today is that in 20 years it will be 100 years since liberation. I am convinced that for the first time in our 5,000-year history, an era is opening in which the Republic of Korea can lead the world," emphasizing, "I know well that the president holds such a dream and conviction."
In particular, Kim said, "You may not believe it, but over the past year we have not held a single cabinet dinner gathering," adding, "When I told the president, 'We haven't had a single dinner gathering,' he laughed and said, 'That's quite the news, and it's fine' — that's how we ran on busily, unable even to eat lunch on time."
President Lee said, "The prime minister accomplished many things well, but the special matter I want to evaluate most highly is the reduction in suicides," and assessed, "As a result of the prime minister taking overall responsibility and encouraging the entire cabinet and even local governments, the statistics from early this year show suicides have decreased by hundreds per month." He added, "Our government sometimes says it will 'become a government that saves the lives of the people,' and through systemic overhaul and careful attention we reduced suicides that had reached 15,000 annually," adding, "The fact that we directly saved hundreds of precious lives as a result carries greater meaning than any other indicator, and I once again deeply thank the prime minister for this."
