Lee vows to root out corruption 'without exception, without taking sides'

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that fighting corruption must transcend political allegiances, calling for consistent and impartial enforcement across the board. "When it comes to rooting out corruption, there can be no 'your side' or 'my side,' no ruling or opposition party," he said. "We need to proceed fairly and strictly, with clear principles and without exception."

Lee made the remarks at the Anti-Corruption Policy Council held at Cheong Wa Dae, warning that even strong economic performance could not sustain a government that had lost the public's trust. "No matter how impressive the economic indicators we achieve, if people's livelihoods remain difficult and the government and public sector fail to earn the trust of the people, all those achievements could crumble as easily as a castle built on sand," he said.

Lee pointed to South Korea's integrity ranking as a cause for concern. "As of 2025, South Korea ranks 31st out of 182 countries in terms of integrity. We rank in the top 10 in almost everything else — the fact that integrity alone sits at 31st is somewhat embarrassing," he said. "As our economic scale and national power grow, the standards demanded of transparency in the public sector and integrity in public service become ever more stringent."

In addition, he urged officials to examine whether longstanding practices had been allowed to persist unchecked. "Public expectations are rising, and we need to look carefully at whether there are areas we have been turning a blind eye to under the excuse that 'this is how it has always been' or 'this is past practice,'" he said. "If such areas exist, they must be corrected immediately. We must first establish clear principles and standards ourselves and take a responsible stance."

He went on to say that entrenched local interests, corruption still deeply rooted in the private sector, and lingering political corruption all needed to be addressed. "We must look carefully at the intervention of vested local powers in matters of profit — which has become a serious problem recently — as well as corruption that remains deeply embedded in the private sector, and the remnants of political corruption that, while much improved, still persist," he said.

Lee called on relevant ministries to press ahead with anti-corruption efforts until the public could feel a genuine change. "I ask that you push forward without wavering until our people can say, 'Yes, things have truly changed,'" he said. "Establishing the principles of fairness and justice in our society is not something that can be finished in one or two sessions — it goes without saying that sustained and ongoing effort is required. I hope the relevant ministries will approach their work with a renewed sense of commitment to meeting the people's expectations."

He also highlighted South Korea's democratic resilience as a foundation for building a fair society. "The international community holds South Korea's political capacity in very high regard. Though we went through a difficult period, the people restored democratic constitutional order without a single drop of blood being shed and without any violence," he said. "The advanced society of the future is most compatible with democracy. A fair, transparent, predictable and rational society enables rational competition, and through rational competition it makes the capabilities and opportunities our people possess far more efficient."

He added that domestic order must itself be rational and fair for South Korea to lead the world in the future. "Ultimately, for our society to advance as a leading nation that guides the world and as an irreplaceable Korea, our domestic order must be highly rational and fair," he said. "That is precisely the core goal of our anti-corruption policy. I ask that you give your best with a strong sense of mission."