President Lee meets Sejong officials for lunch, then new police officers: "Be a pillar of support for the people"

[The Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea chaired a Cabinet meeting at Government Complex Sejong on the 17th, then joined working-level officials responsible for key policy issues for a luncheon. In the afternoon, before attending the appointment ceremony for newly commissioned police inspectors and senior inspectors, he also held a conversation with the appointees, underscoring his support for frontline staff.
According to Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong of Cheong Wa Dae, the luncheon held immediately after the Cabinet meeting was attended by nine working-level officials who have handled core issues since the launch of the Government of the People. They included Inspector Heo Jeong-sun, who uncovered mislabeling of Dokdo as part of Japan during inspections of public institution window decals; Section Chief Lee Soon-hee of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, who oversaw the Phase 1 and 2 housing supply projects; and Officer Oh Sung-jun of the Korea Customs Service (KCS), who led the investigation into a Port of Busan drug trafficking case involving 900 kilograms of narcotics—enough for 30 million doses.
The luncheon also served as a forum to share on-the-ground policy experience. Section Chief Park Seung-min, who is in charge of the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project, explained the purpose of the program. Section Chief Lee Hyun-uk of the Ministry of Science and ICT, who is leading the K-AI Model Project, noted that a direct reporting line and a horizontal organizational culture have helped move the project forward. After hearing from Officer Kim Ki-beom, who designed National Basic Livelihood Security System (NBLSS) programs at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, President Lee said, "As this work is about safeguarding the right to survive of people whose livelihoods are truly in crisis, please make sure the program stays true to its purpose."
Later that afternoon, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung held a preliminary conversation with the appointees before the appointment ceremony for new police inspectors and senior inspectors. President Lee was briefed by the acting President of Korean National Police University that this round of appointments drew from a variety of channels, including KNPU graduates, open recruitment for inspectors, and career-competition recruitment for senior inspectors. He offered encouragement in particular for efforts to diversify the student body by opening KNPU to in-service officers through a transfer program and to general university students through a separate transfer track.
During the conversation, the new officers shared their diverse backgrounds and aspirations. President Lee focused especially on the story of Inspector Ahn Hyo-jin, who balanced childcare and work during three and a half years of police service while transferring into KNPU and ultimately graduating. President Lee remarked, "It usually takes more than 10 years to be promoted to inspector, yet you managed to achieve it in just three and a half years by seizing the highly competitive in-service transfer opportunity. That is truly remarkable," offering special words of encouragement.
Others also shared their motivations. Inspector Choi Mu-seong, who comes from a family victimized by fraud, pledged to focus on crime prevention. Inspector Lee Hak-jun said he was inspired to become a police officer by the officers who helped his mother after she was robbed when he was in middle school. Inspector Song Yu-jin explained that she chose a career in policing after experiencing firsthand the high level of public safety in Korea while working as a flight attendant.
Wrapping up the conversation, President Lee said, "It is reassuring to see talented people from such diverse backgrounds go through the KNPU program and light the way for the future of the police." He added, "On the front lines, please do not forget your original commitment, and become a strong pillar of support that protects the lives and safety of the people."

west@fnnews.com Reporter Seong Seok-woo Reporter