(APRIL 30, 2026) THE 31ST PRESIDENTIAL SENIOR AIDE MEETING

(April 30, 2026) President's Opening Remarks: The 31st Presidential Senior Aide Meeting

1:25 Opening Remarks by President Lee Jae Myung

[May 1 Marks the First Labor Day Under the Lee Jae Myung Administration]

o **Restoring the True Meaning of Labor Day**
- Starting this year, Labor Day regains its rightful name, “Labor”
- Designated as a public holiday, making it especially meaningful
- Hopes it will be a time to reflect on the value and meaning of labor
- Reducing labor market disparities is essential to building a society where workers are properly respected
- Greater efforts must also be made to improve workplace safety

o **Visible Policy Outcomes in Industrial Safety**
- Recent decline in industrial accident fatalities shows policy effectiveness
- Need to accelerate on-site supervision and institutional improvements
- Fair and reasonable improvements needed for non-regular workers’ conditions
- The government is the largest employer in Korea

o **Impact of AI Transformation on Labor and Industry**
- The AI transition is bringing fundamental changes to workplaces
- Calls for a spirit of coexistence and cooperation to overcome major challenges
- Employers should treat workers as valuable partners
- Labor unions must also act with a sense of responsibility
- Workers’ strength comes from solidarity with one another

o **Need for Responsibility and Solidarity**
- Unfair demands by some organized labor groups have drawn public criticism and affected others
- Emphasized the need for shared responsibility beyond self-interest
- Everyone in society is either a worker or an employer
- Called for mutual understanding to build a society where all can thrive together

o **Economic Outlook and Response Measures**
- Despite challenges from the Middle East conflict, the economy shows signs of recovery
- Q1 GDP growth reached its highest level in 5 years and 6 months
- Exports in April are expected to show significant year-on-year growth
- Uncertainty remains over Iran ceasefire talks, requiring continued vigilance
- Called for a comprehensive review of emergency response systems and efforts to stabilize prices
- Strengthened measures needed for price stability
- Ordered effective measures to stabilize agricultural and fisheries prices and reduce logistics costs
- Zero tolerance for anti-social practices such as hoarding and market manipulation

o **Safety Measures During the Holiday Period**
- The Family Month holiday begins on May 1, with increased nationwide travel expected
- Called for thorough preparation of safety measures
- Preemptive checks needed for heatwaves, heavy rain, drought, and other disasters
- Measures required to prevent recurring incidents such as suffocation in confined spaces during summer
- Urged efforts to make this a turning point in reducing damage to life and property from disasters

#PresidentLeeJaeMyung #SeniorAdvisorsMeeting #OpeningRemarks

🔹Date: April 30, 2026 (Thu) 14:00
🔹Venue: Yeomin Hall, Blue House