Seoul: A presidential committee on Wednesday unveiled a comprehensive set of policy tasks that the Lee Jae Myung administration will pursue across politics, the economy, foreign affairs, and society during its five-year term. The State Affairs Planning Committee presented 123 policy tasks, 70 days after Lee took office without a transition period, following a snap election triggered by the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid in December.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the policy tasks cover a broad range of areas, including constitutional amendments, institutional reforms, economic and financial plans, and security policies. "We will pursue politics that unite the people as one, moving beyond conflict and division toward integration," Lee said during a presentation session. "We will promote innovative economic growth that allows everyone to share its benefits through balanced development."
Lee also vowed to pursue "practical diplomacy" to protect national interests on the international stage and ensure public safety. The first priority task is amending the Constitution, last revised in 1987. During his presidential campaign, Lee proposed replacing the current single five-year term with a four-year, two-term system and introducing a runoff voting system.
Reform efforts will focus on transferring concentrated powers from authorities, with prosecutorial reform as a key priority. The committee set out goals to improve strained relations between South and North Korea, institutionalize inter-Korean exchanges, and promote peace efforts to transform the "Korea Risk" into a "Korea Premium."
On foreign affairs, the administration aims to further strengthen the alliance with the United States, diversify diplomatic ties, and achieve denuclearization and a sustainable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. On security, Hong Hyun-ik, head of the foreign and security subcommittee, outlined plans to bolster the "three-axis deterrence structure," comprising the KAMD multilayered missile defense system, the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform, and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation System.
Hong also highlighted Seoul's goal to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington within Lee's term. The OPCON transfer, originally scheduled for 2015, was postponed in 2014 when the allies agreed to a conditions-based rather than timeline-based handover due to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats. The committee aims to develop the defense industry with the goal of becoming one of the world's top four arms exporters.
On the economic front, the Lee administration set a goal to foster new growth drivers in artificial intelligence and biotechnology, proposing a 100 trillion-won (US$72.3 billion) fund to directly support future strategic industries. As part of efforts to reach Lee's target of a KOSPI index of 5,000 points, the plan calls for strict enforcement against unfair trading in capital markets to create a business-friendly environment.
To achieve these goals, the committee suggested a fiscal investment plan allocating an additional 210 trillion won over five years to implement key pledges and major national tasks. Lee said the government will closely review the policies and implement them promptly, noting that the goals can be revised as needed based on feedback.