The meeting came just days before his scheduled departure for the Group of 7 summit in Canada.
The gathering, held at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, brought together top executives from Samsung, Hyundai Motor Group, LG Group, and Lotte Group, as well as leaders of six major economic organizations.
“The most important thing is the people's livelihood,” Lee said during the meeting. “At the heart of that is the economy — and at the heart of the economy is business.”
The meeting marked a swift start to Lee’s administration. His first official act was the establishment of an emergency economic review task force, signaling his urgency in tackling economic challenges.
Lee is expected to depart for Canada this weekend to attend the G7 summit, where he is also planning bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trade tensions, particularly tariffs impacting South Korean industries, are likely to feature prominently in those discussions.
Lee emphasized the government’s role in helping domestic firms expand abroad and compete globally, vowing to deploy both diplomatic and security measures in support of corporate interests.
At the same time, he struck a tone of reform, warning that South Korea could no longer rely on protectionist policies or opaque business practices.
“We must build a fair and transparent economic ecosystem,” he said, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fostering a market-friendly environment.
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong expressed support for the president’s business-first approach, reaffirming the conglomerate’s investment and hiring plans.
Chey Tae-won, chairman of both SK Group and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, praised the upcoming APEC summit as a vital opportunity for public-private cooperation, and urged continued government backing to ensure its success.
reporter
Kim Dong-young
davekim0807@ajupress.com
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