President Lee: "Democracy and Economy, an Inseparable Relationship"

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung stated on the 13th, "As we witnessed through the pro-military coup that destroyed the people's economy, democracy and the economy are inseparable, an indivisible relationship."
President Lee said at the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Congress of Political Science held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, "In an era of crisis where inequality, polarization, and poverty hinder growth, freedom is the economy," he said.
President Lee said, "As the people of the Republic of Korea have proven, the only way to win against everything that threatens democracy is more democracy," adding, "It's time to build bridges of coexistence, reconciliation, and solidarity against inequality and polarization that deepen conflict and division, political extremism that tears the people apart, and the isolation and alienation caused by a society where everyone is left to fend for themselves."
Furthermore, President Lee said, "When we restore the values of coexistence by choosing dialogue over conflict, healing over wounds, reconciliation over confrontation, cooperation over criticism, and caring for each other over hatred," he explained, "The core spirit of K-democracy that will save our future is to thoroughly restore the values of democracy: freedom, equality, and solidarity."
President Lee emphasized, "However, the freedom I speak of does not mean merely the freedom from interference or restriction as some say," adding, "Freedom is a warm meal that fills hunger, a decent job that allows one to make a living, and a social safety net that saves me from the swamp of debt."
In particular, President Lee pointed out, "In a family where members cannot spend time together, in a workplace where one must endure the scorching sun without a break room, in a society where where you live determines life and death, and in a country where once you fall and fail, you cannot rise again, what freedom is there?"
President Lee declared, "The freedom to be equal beyond the freedom to choose freely, the freedom to discuss and participate in the direction of the community, the freedom not to give up dreams for the future, the freedom to change one's living conditions through one's efforts, and the freedom to stand independently as a member of society are the driving forces that will protect our democracy."
President Lee continued, "There is a saying in our language, 'Does democracy put food on the table?'" and added, "But we must prove that democracy does put food on the table."
President Lee added, "We must endlessly prove that democracy is the most rational and efficient political system that discovers the potential and possibilities of us all, and creates a country overflowing with creativity, challenge, and hope where everyone can dream," adding, "Only then can we prevent anti-democratic forces disguised as growth from exploiting the gaps of inequality and poverty to destroy our democracy."

syj@fnnews.com Seo Young-jun Reporter