Lee says S. Korea should learn from European protests to sustain growth

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SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that South Korea should learn from growing public protests in Europe, citing low growth as a potential reason for the unrest and stressing the importance of ensuring sustained growth at home.

The president made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting, as a wave of protests and mass demonstrations over rising living costs and economic inequality has swept across European nations, including France, Spain and Italy.

"As large-scale protests have occurred recently in many European countries, social confusion and conflict have ensued," Lee said. "We should take the European situation as an example of what not to do."

Lee said many experts pointed to high energy and living costs, a stagnant economy and accumulated inequality as factors gripping Europe, adding, "The biggest and most fundamental reason might be low growth."

"Prolonged low growth has worsened youth unemployment and (economic) polarization and weakened fiscal status, shaking social stability from the root," the president said of the European situation.

Despite recent "impressive results" in South Korea's economic indicators, the country is also experiencing difficulties in people's livelihoods and gaps in income, assets and jobs, especially among younger generations, Lee said.

"To solve problems like these, sustainable growth would be very important," he noted, instructing officials to proactively mobilize policy measures to invest in the growth of future industries, promote domestic consumption and improve people's livelihoods.

Those measures would help expand the economy and stabilize state finances, laying the foundation for sustainable growth, the president said.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Oct. 27, 2026. (Yonhap)

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Lee says S. Korea should learn from European protests to sustain growth

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首尔，10月27日（韩联社）——韩国总统李在明周二表示，韩国应该从欧洲日益高涨的公众抗议活动中吸取教训，他指出经济增长缓慢可能是造成动荡的原因之一，并强调确保国内持续增长的重要性。

总统在内阁会议上发表了上述讲话。此前，一波抗议和大规模示威活动席卷了包括法国、西班牙和意大利在内的欧洲各国，抗议者不满生活成本上升和经济不平等现象。

李说：“近期欧洲多国爆发大规模抗议活动，引发社会混乱和冲突。我们应该以欧洲的局势为鉴，避免重蹈覆辙。”

李表示，许多专家指出，高昂的能源和生活成本、停滞不前的经济以及不断加剧的不平等是困扰欧洲的因素，他还补充说，“最大、最根本的原因可能是经济增长缓慢。”

总统在谈到欧洲形势时说：“长期低增长加剧了青年失业和（经济）两极分化，削弱了财政状况，从根本上动摇了社会稳定。”

李表示，尽管韩国近期的经济指标取得了“令人瞩目的成绩”，但该国人民的生计也面临困难，收入、资产和就业方面存在差距，尤其是在年轻一代中。

他指出，“要解决这类问题，可持续增长至关重要”，并指示官员们积极调动政策措施，投资未来产业发展，促进国内消费，改善民生。

总统表示，这些措施将有助于扩大经济规模，稳定国家财政，为可持续增长奠定基础。

2026年10月27日，韩国总统李在明在首尔青瓦台主持召开内阁会议并发表讲话。（韩联社）

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李表示，韩国应该从欧洲的抗议活动中吸取教训，以维持增长。