Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said in opening remarks at a high-level ruling party–government consultation on the 13th that "the more severe the public's judgment, the more we must avoid hesitation or wavering, make what needs to be done even clearer, and move faster on necessary fixes."
The comment is seen as reflecting the latest poll showing a 38% positive rating for President Lee Jae-myung's job performance, the lowest since taking office.
Han said, "State affairs are always subject to evaluation, and the public's judgment is always in the present tense." She added, "The public's judgment makes the party, government, and presidential office reflect on where we should stand," and said, "We will listen carefully to the people's voices and do our utmost to improve people's lives."
She also said, "With Chuseok ahead, we will carefully look after people's livelihoods so they can spend the holiday without worry," adding, "We will do our best to ensure the benefits of the prepared policies—such as the largest-ever discounts, largest supply, and the largest holiday financing support—go back to the people."
Regarding problems in the police's missing-person case management system that have recently come to light, she said, "We must examine whether there were any institutional or structural gaps," adding, "We will thoroughly shore things up so not even the slightest crack emerges." On the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (Jung-su-cheong) and the Prosecution Service Office set to launch next month, she said, "We will identify and address in advance any gaps and confusion that could occur in the field so the new criminal justice system can be launched stably, and we will pool our efforts."
Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said, "Please step up inspections and guidance so that people traveling domestically during the holidays don't have to worry about price gouging." He added, "The president recently instructed that missing-person cases be included in the government's life and safety management framework, like suicides or industrial accidents," and said, "We must devise breakthrough improvement measures and push them forward swiftly."
Kang went on to say, "The new criminal justice system must serve as a foundation to prevent the abuse and concentration of power and to provide stronger protection for crime victims," adding, "Please meticulously check personnel, systems, and all related matters so that the Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the Prosecution Service Office can perform their core functions from day one without a hitch."