Presidential chief calls for crisis response overhaul

Mar 24, 2026, 09:39 am

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Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik speaks during a briefing at the Blue House. / Yonhap News

Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to President Lee Jae-myung, on March 23 ordered swift government support and follow-up measures in response to a factory fire in Daejeon, while reiterating the president’s directives.

According to Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Jeon Eun-soo, Kang chaired a senior aides meeting at the Blue House and instructed ministries to review their crisis response systems and prepare measures that citizens can tangibly feel.

Expressing condolences to the victims of the fire in Daedeok District, Daejeon, Kang stressed that families affected by disasters must not be left isolated due to a lack of information.

He directed the National Crisis Management Center and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to establish and report a “disaster initial communication manual” to ensure timely and effective information sharing in emergencies.

Kang also called for the prompt execution of 1 billion won in special grants and urged the government to consider front-loading support to victims’ families, followed by seeking reimbursement based on liability, to ensure there are no gaps in assistance.

Regarding the Middle East crisis, Kang warned of prolonged uncertainty and called for thorough preparation against potential economic impacts. He instructed officials to take preemptive measures to minimize the effects of rising energy prices and disruptions in raw material supply, particularly on vulnerable groups.

He further emphasized the need to prepare execution and delivery systems in advance so that a supplementary budget for energy crisis response, ordered by the president, can be implemented immediately once finalized.

In addition, addressing a recent child abuse death case, Kang called for a review of blind spots in the child protection system. He instructed relevant agencies—including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Education, and the National Police Agency—to swiftly develop practical measures enabling integrated use of information across institutions.

#Kang Hoon-sik #disaster response #communication manual #Middle East crisis