Lee urges gov’t to continue reforms despite ‘inevitable’ resistance

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that conflict and resistance are “inevitable” when correcting deep-rooted injustices in society, emphasizing that meaningful change comes only by pushing past these obstacles.

The remarks came during a Cabinet meeting where the president noted that one-tenth of his term has already passed and his administration’s reform initiatives must begin delivering results that the public can feel as soon as next year.

Since taking office in June, Lee has repeatedly said that the government’s six priority reform areas — regulation, finance, the public sector, pensions, education and labor — are essential to boosting Korea’s long-term growth potential.

“Reform inevitably creates winners and losers,” Lee said. “There is no such thing as change without resistance. Those who stand to lose naturally try to preserve the status quo, while those seeking to correct injustices are compelled to push ahead. How could these two sides ever be fully aligned?”

He added, “The original meaning of ‘reform’ is said to be the shedding of one’s skin. In other words, it is painful. Just as transformation requires discomfort, our society cannot move in a better direction or correct irrationalities without some degree of conflict and resistance. Only by enduring that struggle does real change occur.”

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Lee also delivered an unusually sharp warning to religious organizations accused of political interference and illegal funding activities. During the meeting, he directed Cho Won-cheol, minister of government legislation, to examine the legal basis for dissolving such groups.

“A legal entity that violates the Constitution or the law must be dissolved,” Lee said, underscoring the need to hold religious groups legally accountable.

Cho replied that the dissolution of a religious entity would fall under Article 38 of the Civil Act rather than the Constitution. He noted that dissolution is possible when an organization repeatedly engages in serious unlawful conduct, but emphasized that such action requires clear confirmation of wrongdoing.

Article 38 of the Civil Act allows a supervisory authority to cancel a corporation’s permit if it deviates from its founding purpose or engages in activities harmful to the public interest. According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, Lee also inquired whether religious groups fall within the scope of legal entities covered by that article.

Lee went on to highlight the seriousness of allegations involving religious organizations accused of violating political neutrality and misusing funds, stating, “If a religious group engages in improper acts, the government must respond firmly.”

His remarks are widely interpreted as connected to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Unification Church, which has faced accusations of improper political entanglement with the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Kang later emphasized at a follow-up press briefing that the president’s directive was not aimed at any particular religious organization. She said Lee was building on earlier discussions about the constitutional principle of separation between religion and state and the scope of Article 38, adding that broader public debate would likely be necessary.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Lee also highlighted the growing global demand for Korean food products, citing record-breaking K-food exports this year.

“From the start of the year through last month, K-food exports reached an all-time high,” Lee said. “Capturing people’s taste is capturing their hearts. The government will strongly support the K-food industry so it can grow beyond the domestic market into a strategic export sector.”

He added that rising global affinity for Korean culture is directly translating into increased demand for Korean goods and services.

“Favorable views of Korea and Korean culture naturally lead to favorable views of Korean products,” he said. “The same will be true for the service sector. Raising the world’s appreciation of Korean culture and Korea itself is crucial. In this sense, the culture minister must see himself as a frontline commander in advancing Korea’s exports.”

According to the Korea Customs Service, Korean food exports surpassed the $10 billion mark for the first time this year, hitting a record $10.4 billion from January to November — a 7 percent increase over the same period of 2024.