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President Lee Jae-myung speaks at the National Growth Fund report session at Front1 in Mapo District, Seoul, on September 10. / Source: Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung reflected on his first 100 days in office on Thursday, describing the period as “a time for recovery and normalization.”

In his opening remarks at a press conference marking the milestone, Lee said, “Over the past 100 days, I have struggled to repair what was broken — in democracy, foreign policy and security, and the people’s economy. I worked every minute with the mindset that one hour of the president’s time is worth the 52 million hours of our citizens.”

Lee emphasized that reviving the livelihood economy was his most urgent priority. “Thanks to swift supplementary budgets and the issuance of consumer coupons, consumer sentiment has rebounded to its highest level in seven years and seven months, and economic indicators are turning upward,” he said. “The KOSPI index has surpassed the 3,300 mark and reached record highs, reflecting the rapid recovery of the stock market.”

On diplomacy, Lee said his administration had achieved “normalization” and “Korea’s return to the global stage.” He pledged to continue raising the nation’s stature while working toward inter-Korean reconciliation and peace on the peninsula.

“I felt proud to hear foreign leaders marvel at the resilience of Korean democracy,” Lee noted. “As president of the Republic of Korea, I am confident that together with this great nation, we can overcome any challenge.”

Looking ahead, Lee vowed to dedicate himself until the last day of his term to building “a country where the people are sovereign and everyone can live happily.” He pledged to pursue “real growth” through an innovation-driven economy and ensure that the benefits are shared under the vision of “growth for all.” He also underscored his commitment to “confident, pragmatic diplomacy” and protecting the everyday peace of citizens.

The 100-day press conference, held under the slogan “100 Days of Recovery, Growth for the Future,” ran for 90 minutes and was divided into three sessions covering livelihood and the economy, politics, diplomacy and security, and society and culture.