(LEAD) Lee vows to prioritize people's livelihoods ahead of 500th day in office

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(ATTN: UPDATES with more remarks in last 5 paras)

SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday pledged to maintain his policy priorities of improving people's livelihoods, pursuing reforms and promoting national unity, a day before he is set to mark his 500th day in office.

"Tomorrow marks the 500th day since the launch of our 'Government of Popular Sovereignty,'" Lee said at a meeting with key aides.

"Without being swayed by any external influence or resistance, (the government) will unwaveringly follow the path toward improving people's livelihoods and pursuing practical reforms and inclusive national unity," he said.

The president also pointed out that the national economy is achieving unprecedented success, but people's livelihoods remain grim, pledging to help spread the benefits of growth to people's everyday lives.

"Our economy is registering remarkable outcomes in various fields. If this trend continues, we will likely become the sixth country with a (per capita) national income of US$40,000 this year among nations with a population of over 50 million," the president noted.

"Difficulties in people's everyday lives, however, do not seem to have eased," the president pointed out, instructing aides to make all-out efforts to ensure that the benefits from growth translate into "specific results" in people's lives.

Lee, in particular, called for prioritizing policies supporting people's livelihoods by resolving difficulties related to housing, employment and finance.

"During the rest of the year, Cheong Wa Dae and the government will have to mobilize all efforts to ensure that the warmth of growth spreads throughout society," he said.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with key aides at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 15, 2026. (Yonhap)

The president also instructed officials to establish a special response body to prevent crimes targeting random people and those involving acquaintances, stressing that officials should work with a determination to "declare war" on such crimes.

The instruction follows a series of high-profile crimes, including a stabbing spree earlier this week in which a 59-year-old man, with knives in both hands, attacked people at a shopping complex in Incheon, west of Seoul, injuring eight people.

On Saturday, a man in his 20s was apprehended after stabbing his mother-in-law to death and kidnapping his wife, who was seeking to annul their marriage.

"With a determination to declare war on violent crimes, extraordinary measures should be established promptly against crimes targeting those in personal relationships or crimes targeting large numbers of unspecified people," the president said.

"Crimes threatening the lives of innocent people are a serious issue jeopardizing not only individuals but also the safety of society as a whole," he stressed, also calling for the establishment of a pan-government body to take full responsibility for responding to such crimes.

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(LEAD) Lee vows to prioritize people's livelihoods ahead of 500th day in office

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首尔，10月15日（韩联社）——韩国总统李在明周四承诺，在他即将迎来就职500天的前一天，他将继续推行改善民生、推进改革和促进国家团结的政策重点。

李显龙在与主要助手的一次会议上说：“明天是我们‘人民主权政府’成立500天的日子。”

他说：“政府不会受到任何外部影响或阻力的动摇，将坚定不移地走改善民生、推进务实改革、实现包容性民族团结的道路。”

总统还指出，国民经济取得了前所未有的成功，但人民的生活依然艰难，他承诺将帮助把经济增长的成果惠及人民的日常生活。

总统指出：“我国经济在各个领域都取得了显著成果。如果这一趋势继续下去，我们今年很可能成为人口超过5000万的国家中第六个国民人均收入达到4万美元的国家。”

“然而，人们日常生活中的困难似乎并没有缓解，”总统指出，并指示助手们全力以赴，确保经济增长带来的好处能够转化为人们生活中的“具体成果”。

李显龙特别呼吁优先制定保障民生的政策，解决住房、就业和金融方面的难题。

“在今年余下的时间里，青瓦台和政府必须调动一切力量，确保经济增长的暖流惠及整个社会，”他说。

2026年10月15日，李在明总统在青瓦台会见重要助手时发表讲话。（韩联社）

总统还指示官员们成立一个特别应对机构，以防止针对随机民众和熟人的犯罪，并强调官员们应该下定决心“向这类犯罪宣战”。

此前发生了一系列备受瞩目的犯罪事件，包括本周早些时候在首尔以西仁川一家购物中心发生的持刀伤人事件，一名 59 岁男子双手各持一把刀，袭击了人群，造成 8 人受伤。

周六，一名二十多岁的男子因刺死岳母并绑架妻子而被捕，他的妻子当时正在寻求解除婚姻关系。

总统表示：“决心向暴力犯罪宣战，应立即采取非常措施，打击针对有私人关系者的犯罪或针对大量不明身份人员的犯罪。”

他强调，“威胁无辜民众生命的犯罪是一个严重的问题，不仅危及个人安全，也危及整个社会的安全”，并呼吁成立一个跨政府机构，全面负责应对此类犯罪。

韩国央行行长强调，在人工智能蓬勃发展和中东危机的背景下，需要抑制通胀。

李呼吁重组社会制度以满足不断变化的人口结构的需求。

（第二条）韩国央行行长表示，连续加息为应对金融风险争取了时间。

（导语）李显龙在就职500天前承诺将民生放在首位