On January 21, 2026, President Lee Jae-myung presented Korea’s new growth strategies at the New Year press conference held at the Blue House. He emphasized that Korea is no longer a latecomer but stands at a pivotal moment amid global changes. President Lee introduced five major transformation paths: regional-led growth, inclusive prosperity, sustainable growth based on safety, culture-driven development, and stable growth supported by peace. These strategies aim to fundamentally shift the nation’s growth paradigm and elevate Korea’s status on the global stage.
President Lee highlighted the integration of Daejeon-Chungnam and Gwangju-Jeonnam as symbolic starting points for regional-led growth, pledging to ensure their success regardless of political interests. He stressed the importance of startups and venture companies as new growth engines, promising increased support for young entrepreneurs. The government will also strengthen industrial safety by adding 3,500 labor inspectors and establishing new workplace safety roles. With the cultural budget expanded to 9.6 trillion won, culture will be a core strategy for enhancing the national brand. In inter-Korean relations, he committed to restoring the September 19 military agreement and pursuing early North Korea-U.S. talks.
President Lee reaffirmed that the government’s top principle is ‘the people’s lives,’ vowing to govern pragmatically beyond ideology and partisanship. He expressed a strong commitment to prosecutorial reform, stating that resistance or burden would not deter progress. The president promised to protect citizens’ rights and eradicate unfairness, privilege, and injustice. He also pledged to uphold the essence of reform and develop responsible solutions for a better life for all Koreans.
Looking ahead, Korea is expected to emerge as a global leader by implementing these five transformation strategies. Regional-led growth, a startup and venture boom, safer workplaces, cultural industry development, and peace policies are anticipated to enhance national competitiveness and improve quality of life. President Lee’s pragmatic governance and reform drive are likely to spur innovation and change across society. The government’s policy execution and national unity will be crucial factors shaping Korea’s future.
President Lee’s five transformation strategies represent a comprehensive blueprint to address Korea’s multifaceted challenges, including low growth, regional disparities, social polarization, safety, cultural competitiveness, and inter-Korean relations. Strengthening regional-led growth and the startup ecosystem is expected to drive industrial transformation and youth employment. Increased investment in safety, culture, and peace will support sustainable growth, elevate Korea’s global brand, and contribute to stability on the Korean Peninsula. From an AI perspective, these policies can be further enhanced through data-driven policy evaluation, region-specific growth strategies, and digital innovation in the startup ecosystem.