President Lee Jae-myung said on the 19th that South Korea "must take back wartime operational control early, and we are fully capable of doing so." He said he views the issue as a matter of restoring military sovereignty, adding, "I believe wartime operational control should be returned and restored, rather than transferred." His remarks made clear the government's commitment to an early handover after Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, recently voiced reservations about an early transfer.
Speaking at a tea meeting at the Chunchugwan press center marking 500 days since his government took office, Lee said, "Military sovereignty is one of the most essential components of sovereignty." He added, "I believe we must get it back quickly to meet the minimum requirements of a state." He went on to say, "Leaving wartime operational control in the hands of another country and depending on it is by no means a situation that can simply be left as it is."
Lee also expressed confidence in the country's independent defense capabilities. On the negotiations between Seoul and Washington, he said, "Basically, the talks are going well in the direction of a return," adding, "The process will not be easy, but it will work out." He did not, however, offer a target date for the handover.
On economic issues, Lee said housing supply would normalize after 2028. "Housing permits and construction starts have halved since 2022," he said, explaining that there is a lag of three to four years before an expansion in supply under the current government takes effect. On the domestic stock market, he said it remains "still undervalued," adding, "I will receive a comprehensive report soon and review additional policies."
On the bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Lee said, "It appears there has not been enough dialogue with the agriculture, livestock and fisheries industries," stressing that the government "must put together measures to a level they can accept." Turning to politics, in discussing the need for a "structural majority," he said, "If moderates and rational conservatives band together on the opposing side, it will be impossible for the ruling bloc to stay in power," and called for "looking at the tent more broadly, including them."