President Lee Jae-myung stated on the 9th at the ‘2026 Economic Growth Strategy National Report’ held at the Blue House that this year’s economic situation is expected to be around 2%, slightly above the potential growth rate. He emphasized that this year should be the first year of a great leap for South Korea, achieving growth in all areas.
President Lee mentioned that last year, the government prepared for full-scale growth by reviving the collapsed livelihood economy. He expressed a strong will to realize an economic leap where all citizens share the expectations and fruits of growth as the nation grows. He particularly believes that normalization policies, such as fostering semiconductors, will strengthen the focus of our economy and lead to a new leap.
President Lee explained that the current economic conditions are facing a significant challenge of K-shaped growth, different from the past. He said that while the economy will be better than last year in terms of appearance and indicators, many citizens may not feel the change. He emphasized that efforts must be made to ensure that the opportunities and fruits of economic growth are shared by everyone, not just a specific minority.
Regarding youth issues, President Lee stated that the shadow of K-shaped growth is concentrated on the younger generation, threatening the long-term future growth engine of the Korean economy. He pointed out that if the growth of the nation and the profits of companies do not lead to jobs and opportunities for young people, it is difficult to say that society is healthy. He also highlighted the need to recognize the reality of young people driven to the employment cliff as a national crisis and to prepare special measures.