President Lee Jae-myung outlines regional development and reform plans

During his seventh press conference since inauguration, President Lee Jae-myung addressed several key national issues, including regional balanced development and constitutional amendments. He proposed incorporating the spirit of the Busan-Masan Democratic Uprising and the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement into the constitutional preamble. To combat the concentration of power in the Seoul metropolitan area, Lee emphasized the decentralization of corporations, finances, and public institutions to regional areas.

In Gyeongsangnam-do, this policy has sparked significant interest. The province is seeking the relocation of 40 agencies, including the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to ensure the headquarters of Korea South-East Power remains in Jinju amidst discussions regarding the merger of five power generation companies. However, the vacancy in the Chairperson position of the Presidential Committee on Local Era has left a gap in coordinating these regional interests.

President Lee also faced scrutiny regarding his stance on prosecution reform. Critics and core supporters have expressed concern over his perceived moderate approach, such as suggesting that prosecutors should retain certain investigative powers in exceptional cases. This has led to internal debates within his support base regarding the government's commitment to separating investigation and indictment functions.