President Lee: "How can one trade the uncovering of an insurrection for anything else? Why would a special court be unconstitutional?"

Regarding the ruling and opposition parties' agreement on the special counsel bill: "Governance through cooperation is different from collusion... I do not wish for things to be done that way."

Criticizes emotional response to prosecution reform, asking, "Would you break your crockpot just because you dislike maggots?" and adds, "The Media Arbitration Act should not be touched."

On the U.S. detention issue: "Companies will inevitably hesitate to invest directly in the U.S. We are currently negotiating visa systems."

"I will not insist on tightening the threshold for major shareholders for capital gains tax... We must proceed with easing inheritance tax deductions for spouses."

President Lee Jae-myung at his 100th-day press conference. (Seoul=Yonhap News) Kim Do-hoon = President Lee Jae-myung takes questions at the "100 Days for Recovery, Growth for the Future" press conference held at the Blue House Yeongbingwan on the 11th. 2025.9.11 [Presidential Office Photo Press Corps] superdoo82@yna.co.kr

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Hyung-seop = Regarding the agreement reached by the ruling and opposition parties the previous day on the revised bill for three major special counsels (insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, and the marine soldier's death), President Lee Jae-myung stated, "How can you trade the truth-finding and strict accountability of an insurrection for the reorganization of the government structure?"

This effectively amounts to an objection to the agreement—which decided not to extend the special counsel's investigation period to accommodate the processing schedule of the Government Organization Act—firmly establishing his principle that there will be no compromise on the "insurrection" case.

President Lee Jae-myung at his 100th-day press conference. (Seoul=Yonhap News) Kim Do-hoon = President Lee Jae-myung conducts his 100th-day press conference at the Blue House Yeongbingwan on the 11th. 2025.9.11 [Presidential Office Photo Press Corps] superdoo82@yna.co.kr

At the 100th-day press conference held at the Blue House Yeongbingwan, President Lee stated, "There was noise about agreeing to pass the Government Organization Act on the condition of not extending the insurrection special counsel," adding, "Because there is public sentiment that it seems like I ordered it, criticism is pouring down on me, but I actually did not know (about the details). And I do not wish for it to be done that way."

President Lee particularly emphasized, "Governance through cooperation is different from collusion," and used an analogy: "You cannot compromise with a group that used to steal ten items a day by saying, 'Let’s just steal five.' You must keep your word to stop stealing."

He further stressed, "We can still work even if the (government) reorganization doesn't happen. The Government Organization Act can be handled slowly. Couldn't we just designate it for the fast-track (which takes 6 months)?" He added, "Isn't it a fundamental value of a democratic republic to thoroughly uncover the truth of an insurrection and make sure people can't even dream of it? How can you trade that away?"

Addressing the special insurrection court proposed by the Democratic Party, President Lee retorted, "They say it's unconstitutional, but how is it unconstitutional?"

President Lee stated, "Judicial independence does not mean the judiciary can do whatever it wants. The sovereign will of the people is the most important thing," and added, "Everything depends on the people. There is a clear hierarchy of power in South Korea, and the National Assembly most directly represents the delegated sovereignty of the people."

He warned, "We must respect the sovereign will of the people through the legislature," and added, "I don't know what the specific content will be, but if the legislature and the judiciary clash over this issue, I can also voice my opinion."

President Lee also criticized both the judiciary and the prosecution, stating, "Judiciary power is indirectly granted from politics, but one day it inverted, and politics became subordinate to the judiciary," adding, "The definitive form of this is the 'political prosecution.' The country almost collapsed because of it."

President Lee Jae-myung speaking at his 100th-day press conference. (Seoul=Yonhap News) Kim Do-hoon = President Lee Jae-myung speaks at the "100 Days for Recovery, Growth for the Future" press conference held at the Blue House Yeongbingwan on the 11th. 2025.9.11 [Presidential Office Photo Press Corps] superdoo82@yna.co.kr

However, regarding follow-up measures for prosecution reform, including the abolition of supplementary investigation rights, President Lee appeared to keep some distance from the ruling party’s excessively "radical" reforms, saying, "Would you burn down the house just to get rid of the termites?"

President Lee said, "The political decision to separate investigation and prosecution has been made. Now, it is important to be more specific to ensure investigations do not become shoddy." He added, "We need very meticulous mechanisms. Let's exclude emotions entirely and examine this logically."

Regarding the method of review, he proposed, "Let the government take the lead," and added, "During the process (of listening to experts), we should listen to the opinions of the opposition party, the ruling party, victims, and the prosecution to resolve these issues through debate."

Regarding the ruling party's push for the Media Arbitration Act, which introduces punitive damages for the press, he retorted, "I hope they don't target only the press. Aren't there people on YouTube earning money by attracting attention with fake news?"

President Lee offered his opinion: "Don't touch the Media Arbitration Act, but (find ways to increase) compensation," adding, "Be strict only against malicious (fake news) and make the compensation amounts very large."

Staff listening to President Lee Jae-myung's remarks. (Seoul=Yonhap News) Kim Do-hoon = Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho, and other staff members listen to the President's remarks at the 100th-day press conference held at the Blue House Yeongbingwan on the 11th. 2025.9.11 [Presidential Office Photo Press Corps] superdoo82@yna.co.kr

When asked about the release of South Korean workers detained by U.S. immigration authorities, President Lee announced that a chartered plane carrying 330 people—316 South Korean nationals and 14 foreigners—would depart for Korea at 1 a.m. on the 12th. He stated, "(The U.S. side) insisted on transporting them in handcuffs, and I said that was unacceptable. The process was reportedly suspended during that tug-of-war."

President Lee remarked that due to this incident, "Companies will inevitably hesitate to make direct investments in the U.S.," and added, "We are negotiating for the normal operation of visa issuance related to future investments in the U.S. I believe the U.S. will also resolve that issue."

A dealer watching President Lee Jae-myung's 100th-day press conference. (Seoul=Yonhap News) Lim Hwa-young = A dealer watches President Lee Jae-myung's 100th-day press conference at the Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul. 2025.9.11 hwayoung7@yna.co.kr

Regarding whether to follow the government plan to tighten the major shareholder threshold for capital gains tax from the current 5 billion won to 1 billion won, he said, "If this reaches the point of hindering the revitalization of the stock market, there is no need to insist on it."

President Lee stated, "The opposition party is demanding (to maintain the status quo), and the ruling party also holds the opinion that it would be better to leave it as is," adding, "I intend to leave it to the National Assembly's discussions."

Regarding the separate taxation of dividend income, President Lee explained, "It is desirable to have a direction that helps revitalize the stock market," adding, "The goal is to maximize dividends without causing a significant deficit in tax revenue."

Instead, President Lee reiterated his principle of strict response, stating, "I have given instructions to confiscate not only the profits gained from stock manipulation but also the principal invested in the manipulation. I will clearly show that you will face ruin if you engage in stock manipulation."

Regarding the plan to ease the application criteria for inheritance tax for spouses, effectively lowering taxes, he mentioned, "Since this was a promise I made during the presidential campaign, I will see to it that it is handled this time."

As for the revision to the Commercial Act, he defended it, saying, "It is not about tightening the noose on companies, but about putting pressure on corrupt businessmen, management, and certain controlling shareholders."