President Lee pushes practicality over protocol with ‘no-tie’ Cabinet meeting
Vice Commissioner General Yoo Jae-sung of the National Police Agency removes his tie after realizing the no-tie dress code during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok
President Lee Jae Myung is continuing to break with bureaucratic convention, emphasizing substance over form in state affairs.
Following last month’s “gimbap Cabinet meeting,” where he brought gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) to the table to symbolize practicality, Lee led with another symbolic gesture on Tuesday, a “no-tie” Cabinet meeting.
Departing from the traditional dress code of suits and ties, the meeting took place in a noticeably more relaxed and practical atmosphere.
Some attendees, unaware of the no-tie directive, were seen hurriedly removing their ties just before the meeting began.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul removes his tie after realizing the no-tie dress code during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul appeared visibly flustered as he adjusted his outfit, and senior officials such as the deputy commissioner of the National Police Agency also followed the protocol office’s instructions to shed their ties.
President Lee had previously declared at his first Cabinet meeting that “action matters more than ceremony,” signaling a shift toward informal but efficient governance.
Since then, weekly Cabinet meetings have reportedly focused on practical dialogue and direct feedback rather than polished presentations, with participation from both civil servants and civilian experts. The new format aims to avoid performative politics and prioritize substance, pragmatism and results.
President Lee Jae Myung, dressed without a tie, strikes the gavel during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office on Tuesday. His attire reflected his emphasis on substance over form. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.