Choi Sang-mok, acting president and deputy prime minister and Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, said on the 31st, "We will strive to remove domestic and international uncertainties and focus on stabilizing people's livelihoods based on the solid fundamentals of our economy."
Acting President Choi noted in the New Year’s address that day, "The international situation is rapidly changing, altering the landscape of diplomacy and security."
Choi diagnosed that "the Republic of Korea is in an unprecedentedly serious situation," and that "the international situation is rapidly changing, altering the landscape of diplomacy and security."
Choi continued, "We will make every effort to ensure stable national administration in all areas, including defense, diplomacy, economy, and society, so that the public can feel at ease," adding, "we will strengthen ties with allies, including the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation, to firmly maintain the combined defense posture and respond to North Korean nuclear threats and Russian-North Korean military cooperation."
Besides stabilizing people's livelihoods, Acting President Choi stressed that the focus of national administration for the new year will be on "managing external confidence" and "national unity," among others.
Acting President Choi said, "While managing external confidence as a top priority, we will also enhance cooperation between related ministries and agencies to prevent the expansion of volatility in the financial and foreign exchange markets," and added, "We will swiftly execute various budgets from the beginning of the year to ensure that the state stands by its citizens, and we will support small business owners and self-employed individuals in a timely manner to revive domestic demand."
Choi continued, "We will operate emergency medical systems, including emergency medical services, without gaps to prevent any medical shortages," and added, "We will focus on cracking down on various crimes that threaten the daily lives of good people, such as deepfakes and rental fraud, and will be thoroughly prepared for various safety accidents."
Choi further stated, "We will find wise solutions to the numerous challenges before us by engaging in deep communication with social leaders from all sectors, including the National Assembly and political circles, both ruling and opposition."