President Lee: "We must move towards a future-oriented democracy where the collective intelligence of the sovereign is manifested"

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung said on the 13th, "Now we must move towards a future-oriented democracy where the collective intelligence of the sovereign, which has corrected the crisis of democracy, can be properly manifested."
President Lee said at the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Political Science Association Seoul Congress held at COEX, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, "Public officials, including the president, must restore the trust that they always reflect the will of the sovereign as representatives of the people, and democracy must be further innovated so that the capabilities of advanced collective intelligence can contribute to the development of the democratic republic," he said.
President Lee pointed out, "We must achieve social consensus so that the diverse perspectives of citizens can be more richly reflected and connected to the spread of deliberative democracy to solve complex issues," adding, "If we hadn't monitored the abuse of power with the mobile phones in our hands and communicated fiercely, the Republic of Korea might still be wandering in darkness and fog."
In addition, President Lee explained, "I believe that the already arrived AI revolution will further develop digital democracy by assisting in rational discussions and democratic decision-making, and become a useful foundation for strengthening direct democracy," adding, "Although there are voices concerned about the negative impact of a monopoly of technology by a few on democracy, if it is unavoidable, we must rather turn it into an opportunity by taking a step ahead."
President Lee said, "If we take this crisis as an opportunity, the AI revolution will indeed act as a singularity that will open a new future for K-democracy," adding, "We will be able to overcome the limitations of representative democracy, supplement the inefficiencies of direct democracy, and create innovative democracy that the times demand."
In particular, President Lee conveyed, "It is the first step that no one has taken, and it is a rough first path that we must newly pioneer," adding, "Both the analysis of the current situation and the alternatives are diverse and unfamiliar."
President Lee stated, "As you all know, there is no democracy that comes automatically. In the history of rugged democracy, there was not a single day of spring that we enjoyed for free," adding, "From the Donghak Peasant Revolution, the March 1st Movement, April 19, May 18, the June Democratic Uprising to the Candlelight Revolution, ordinary people and citizens rose up resolutely, and the clear memories engraved in our hearts and minds over the years led us back to the streets last winter night."
President Lee continued, "The living responded to the call of the dead, and those who left first stood up the present in despair," adding, "When we willingly take on the historical mission of not stopping challenges despite trials, the history of democracy can advance step by step and leap into a new order that leads to a better world."

syj@fnnews.com Reporter Seo Young-jun