Summary of "(2026년 3월 31일 자막 생중계) 이재명 대통령 제13회 국무회의"
13th Cabinet Meeting — 31 March 2026
President: Lee Jae‑myung
Overview
This meeting framed the Middle East war as a major external shock with wide economic and supply‑chain consequences. The President emphasized daily monitoring, rapid and decisive action, and readiness to use extraordinary legal tools (including emergency financial/economic orders) rather than relying on normal procedures.
Key immediate priorities included stabilizing energy and petrochemical inputs, preventing hoarding, ensuring local government readiness and cooperation, countering disinformation, and accelerating the energy transition.
The President ordered strict countermeasures against fake news and opportunistic profiteering, urged administrative speed and creative problem‑solving, and suggested linking stronger EV incentives to regions producing abundant renewable electricity.
Reports and Main Ministerial Items
Macroeconomic and market situation
Presented by: Ministry of Finance / Macroeconomic Price Response Team
- Short‑term indicators (March) showed some positive signs in consumption and exports, but consumer and business sentiment are weakening.
- Exchange‑rate volatility (KRW > 1,520 at report time) and rising government bond yields require vigilance.
- Government will monitor breaking indicators daily and implement policy responses to address sentiment and risk.
Energy, industry, and supply chains
Presented by: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
- Disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz and prolonged Middle East instability prompted active measures:
- Securing alternative crude and gas supplies.
- Demand management measures (public transport five‑day rotation, campaigns, subsidies).
- Expanded price‑cap measures for petroleum products.
- Naphtha designated for emergency supply adjustment; proposals include export curbs/diversion and facilitation of alternative imports (letters of credit, low‑interest loans) to secure petrochemical feedstocks for health and daily goods.
- Natural gas alternative supplies expected to manage demand through year‑end; continued close monitoring of 11 major industry supply chains (helium, sulfur, IV fluids, packaging gases, etc.).
- Government will ban hoarding and can issue production orders to prevent shutdowns.
- Strong condemnation of circulating rumors (e.g., claims about large barrel diversions or North Korea involvement) — labeled fake news; criminal and administrative measures against disinformation and profiteering pledged.
Financial stability and support
Presented by: Financial Services Commission / Financial Stability Taskforce
- Financial sector on emergency footing with focus on:
- Supporting households and the real economy.
- Stabilizing markets.
- Managing financial‑industry risks.
- Policy financing increased by 3 trillion KRW (from 20.3 → 24.3 trillion KRW); private financial sector committed additional liquidity (≈53 trillion KRW+) to support affected firms.
- A 100 trillion KRW “plus‑alpha” liquidity program is active and ready to expand.
- Stress tests under worst‑case scenarios planned; targeted measures include insurance/credit‑card benefits, repayment deferrals, and bank support for naphtha imports.
Health, welfare and social protection
Presented by: Ministry of Health and Welfare
- Emergency welfare and livelihood support to be expanded for vulnerable groups (emergency care, daily care, job search support, living loans, vocational training).
- Monitoring and protective measures for potential medicine shortages (e.g., IV fluids) with stricter oversight against hoarding and priority allocation plans.
Foreign affairs and citizen protection
Presented by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ongoing diplomacy to secure energy/raw‑material channels; high‑level engagement and alternative supply negotiations emphasized.
- Evacuation support for approximately 13,000 Korean nationals in the Middle East; advisories issued and continuous citizen protection operations maintained.
Law enforcement, prosecution, and police capacity
- Discussion focused on investigative workload and capacity amid major criminal‑justice reforms (creation of Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and transfer/clarification of investigative functions).
- Concerns raised about case backlogs, prison/correctional overcrowding, and processing complex crime types (drugs, cybercrime, sex crimes).
- Police reported personnel and organizational adjustments; prosecution reported heavy caseloads and personnel steps being taken.
Fair Trade complaint system reform
Presented by: Fair Trade Commission (with inter‑ministerial debate)
Proposal highlights:
- Abolish or relax the Fair Trade Commission’s exclusive right to file criminal complaints (the “exclusive complaint system”).
- Expand the ability of citizens and additional government agencies to initiate complaints/prosecutions, including:
- Allowing complaints when a threshold number of citizens or businesses sign (options discussed, e.g., 30 businesses or 300 citizens).
- Expanding which government agencies can request prosecutions.
- Rationalize excessive criminal penalties toward economic sanctions/fines for many violations; reserve criminal punishment for serious cartel and core offenses.
- Strengthen administrative corrective powers and inter‑agency cooperation to avoid overlapping investigations and reduce burdens on SMEs.
Debate and next steps:
- Ministers discussed risks of abuse/frivolous complaints, allocation of investigative authority (prosecution vs police vs Serious Crimes Investigation Agency), need for unified standards/training, and protections for SMEs.
- Agreement reached to review institutional details, coordinate with criminal‑justice reforms, and prepare careful legislative amendments and interagency protocols before enactment.
Quality of Life 2025 indicators and policy responses
Presented by: National Data Office / Ministry of Health and Welfare
- National Quality of Life index uses 71 indicators across 11 domains: 37 improved, 25 worsened, 9 unchanged (end‑2025).
- Key concerns: rising relative poverty (15.3% in 2024) despite higher per‑capita GNI, stagnant life satisfaction, increased climate‑related stress and safety anxieties (privacy, environment).
- Policy responses include:
- Suicide prevention (inter‑agency taskforce; local suicide prevention officers).
- Targeted support for high‑risk groups, obesity/sugar reduction policies.
- Crime prevention and victim protection.
- Fire/disaster risk management with AI prediction.
- Preschool support (free preschool for ages 3–5).
- Employment supports, housing upgrades and relocation assistance for substandard housing.
- Regional tourism/leisure support.
- Implementation of the Climate Adaptation Act and energy‑vulnerability measures.
- Water and soil quality monitoring.
Local commercial districts and SME support
Presented by: Ministry of SMEs and Startups
- Evidence shows a widening gap between metropolitan core commercial districts and provincial districts.
- Revitalization plans include:
- “Startup for Everyone” and local‑startup promotion (special funds, regional growth funds, dedicated credit evaluation).
- Glocalization and local cluster development, joint marketing and infrastructure support.
- Standardized local commercial district ordinances and support for historic markets as tourism assets.
- Measures to stabilize rents and prevent speculative spikes as districts revitalize.
K‑Brand certification and overseas counterfeiting response
Presented by: Knowledge/Brand Office
- Plan to create a government K‑Brand certification trademark (government as rights holder) for ~70 key export product types.
- Use AI authenticity verification and pan‑governmental enforcement to disrupt counterfeits overseas.
- Ministries to assist with promotion, enforcement requests abroad, and setting standards for SMEs.
ODA / grant aid and EDCF reform
Presented by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Ministry of Finance
- Restructure grant‑aid projects to consolidate implementing agencies (from 37 → ~27–32) and reduce fragmented, small projects.
- Align ODA with diplomatic and economic goals (AI, culture, private‑sector linkages).
- Review EDCF concessional loan projects; prioritize or cancel non‑core projects.
- Increase transparency (real‑name selection records) and link projects to summit diplomacy/export opportunities.
Legislative process guidance
Presented by: Ministry of Government Legislation
- Concern about proliferation of lawmaker‑initiated bills that bypass inter‑ministerial review and fiscal screening.
- Ministries urged to request prior review and avoid creating redundant or unnecessary new laws.
Culture Day expansion
Presented by: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (referenced)
- “Culture Day” to expand from once monthly to every Wednesday starting 1 April.
- Discounted and expanded cultural offerings planned; cabinet participation requested.
Other operational notes and actions
- War supplementary budget: ruling and opposition parties agreed to pass it in early April; government to execute quickly during April.
- Continued crackdowns on fraud (voice‑phishing cases down 31.6% since integrated response team formed).
- Transnational crime cooperation successes (including repatriation of a serious criminal).
- Stricter actions against profiteering and hoarding during the crisis.
- Ministers reiterated that legal or systemic obstacles slowing crisis response should be escalated to the Cabinet/Presidential Office for urgent resolution, including possible emergency legal measures.
Presenters and Contributors (listed in record)
- President Lee Jae‑myung
- Prime Minister
- Minister of Economy and Finance / Minister of Finance (Macroeconomic Price Response Team)
- Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy
- Chairperson, Financial Services Commission
- Minister of Health and Welfare
- Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Chairperson, Fair Trade Commission
- Minister of Justice
- Minister of the Interior and Safety
- Minister of Government Legislation (or representative)
- Minister of SMEs and Startups
- Director / Minister responsible for National Data / National Quality of Life indicators (National Data Office)
- Director, K‑Brand / Knowledge (Presidential) Office
- Representatives from National Police Agency / Commissioner General of Police
- Prosecutor General / Chief Prosecutor
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (referenced)
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (referenced)
- Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (referenced)
- Ministry of Intellectual Property (referenced)
- Ministry of Finance and Economy (EDCF reporting)
(Several additional agencies and ministry officials contributed written opinions or participated in debates on Fair Trade reform, police/prosecution capacity, and sectoral action plans.)
Category
News and Commentary
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