On Wednesday, President Lee Jae Myung will hold a New Year’s press conference for 2026 with the theme Achieving Transformation Together, A Great Leap Forward for All. He is expected to candidly express his philosophy and views on various national issues.
The Blue House announced that the event will take place at the Blue House guesthouse for 90 minutes. Approximately 160 domestic and foreign journalists will attend, with the Q&A session divided into three main areas: Economy, Foreign Affairs/Security/Defense, and Society/Culture.
As the format will be an unscripted Q&A, a wide range of questions on national issues and President Lee’s responses are anticipated.
In the political arena, sensitive topics likely to be addressed include the second comprehensive special investigation, the opposition’s calls for dual special probes into the Unification Church and campaign funding, the nomination of Lee Hye-hoon as Budget Minister, relations between the administration and opposition parties, and judicial reforms.
On the economic front, President Lee is expected to discuss recent currency fluctuations, real estate policies, the KOSPI index approaching 5,000 points, and the challenge of balancing economic growth with inflation control while promoting artificial intelligence (AI) and high-tech industries.
Regarding foreign policy, security, and defense, he will likely explain the impacts of the international trade order reshaped under President Donald Trump and reaffirm South Korea’s pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interests. Topics may include semiconductor tariffs, follow-up measures for U.S. investments, and the U.S.-South Korea alliance. He may also reiterate his conciliatory approach toward North Korea to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
In social and cultural matters, the President is expected to outline his commitment to six major structural reforms, support for vulnerable groups, and strengthening social safety nets. He might also mention plans for substantial support in the supplementary budget to promote Korean culture globally.
Lee Gyu-yeon, the Chief of Public Relations and Communication, stated that President Lee plans to detail his vision for national transformation in this pivotal year of 2026, adding that, as with previous press conferences, there will be no pre-arranged questions.
Later that evening, President Lee is scheduled to dine with the newly restructured leadership of the Democratic Party.
Just ten days after Han Byeong-do’s election as floor leader, it’s reported that key party figures, including Deputy Floor Leader Chun Jun-ho, Policy Chief Kim Han-kyu, and Communication Chief Jeon Yong-ki, will attend.
The dinner is expected to focus on strategies to expedite follow-up legislation for judicial reform and other economic measures.