South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok stated on Friday that the government's focus for 2026 will be on fostering strategic industries, protecting lives from disasters, and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula. He outlined these priorities during a ceremony marking the new year's first day of work at the government complex in Sejong, emphasizing pursuit under three key goals: an open government, one that listens to field voices, and a nation confident on the international stage.
On January 2, 2026, during a ceremony marking the new year's first day of work at the government complex in Sejong, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok outlined the South Korean government's priorities for the year. He emphasized fostering strategic industries, protecting people's lives from disasters, and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
As the first priority, Kim vowed to exert utmost efforts into nurturing future strategic industries, listing artificial intelligence, bio, contents and culture, defense, and energy—abbreviated as 'ABCDE.' This focus aims to drive economic growth amid global competition.
The second priority centers on placing the value of respect for life at the heart of state affairs. He cited plans to bolster the government's responsibility in safeguarding lives from industrial disasters, suicides, wildfires, and other preventable deaths.
For the third, the prime minister pledged unwavering efforts for peace. "Since immediately after its launch, the Lee Jae Myung government has taken preemptive measures to reduce consuming conflicts, such as those involving trash balloons and loudspeakers," he said, referencing North Korea's 2024 trash-carrying balloon launches into South Korea and the two sides' cross-border loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts. "Our government will continue to leave open the possibility of dialogue and build a Korean Peninsula of peaceful coexistence and prosperity," he added.
These remarks symbolize the steady start of the Lee Jae Myung administration, signaling responses to domestic and international challenges through tension reduction and economic innovation to ensure public stability.
