President Lee says, "We will focus especially on summer disaster measures and deploy all available resources"

[Financial News] On the 21st, President Lee Jae-myung urged local governments across the country to "focus especially on summer disaster measures and deploy all available resources." He also called for a review of the major fire at an Incheon logistics warehouse and damage from heavy rain, and instructed officials to prepare in advance for the heat wave expected to intensify after the monsoon season.
In his opening remarks at the 31st Cabinet meeting, which he chaired at Cheong Wa Dae that day, President Lee told mayors, county governors, and district mayors, "Above all, isn't the safety of residents the most important thing?"
Regarding the fire at the Incheon logistics warehouse over the weekend, he said, "I understand the major blaze has been brought under control through the authorities' all-out response, but please do your utmost to minimize damage to first responders and nearby residents."
On the heavy rain, he said, "More rain is forecast again this week," and ordered authorities to make every effort to manage safety in disaster-prone areas. Citing flood-hit areas such as Andong, North Gyeongsang Province; Uiseong County; Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province; and Goyang, he also called for recovery work to be accelerated as much as possible.
He also stressed the need to protect vulnerable groups from the heat wave that will follow the monsoon season. President Lee said, "Vulnerable people who have difficulty using air-conditioning facilities suffer even more because of tropical nights," and instructed officials to review ways to extend the operating hours of cooling shelters, which are currently limited to daytime hours, during periods of extreme heat.
He praised the fact that the completion rate for disaster recovery projects before this year's monsoon season reached 93.7 percent, the highest level in the past 10 years. President Lee said, "I thank each ministry and local government for responding very well," and also suggested a plan to identify and reward public officials who delivered results.
Marking the second year of his administration, he said, "Even if we consider the first year a period of preparation, now is the time to run," and called for faster momentum across state affairs. On cases in which agencies refused information disclosure requests, lost in court, but still filed appeals and further appeals, he said they "undermine trust in administration" and ordered a review of litigation cases and loss rates by ministry.
He also called for a government-wide response to polarization caused by the shift to Artificial Intelligence (AI). President Lee said, "Economic indicators are improving remarkably, but countless SMEs, micro enterprises, and young people are being left out of the warmth of growth."
He added, "Without easing polarization, sustainable growth is impossible," and instructed officials to concentrate all policy capacity, including fiscal, tax, and financial tools, on youth jobs and asset-building, support for SMEs and micro enterprises, and the development of growth engines in each region.
[email protected] Seong Seok-woo Reporter