Lee Hyung-il, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, ordered a ground-up review of risks spanning the real economy, real estate, financial and foreign exchange markets on his first day in office. The directive came as he assessed that South Korea’s recovery remains intact but domestic and external uncertainties are elevated because of semiconductor industry conditions, global capital-flow changes and geopolitical risks. After President Lee Jae-myung approved his appointment on the morning of the 22nd, Lee chaired his first senior staff meeting that afternoon, thanked former Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol and called for continuity in the ministry’s work. He told officials to strengthen macroeconomic analysis and forecasting rather than rely on near-term indicators, and to prepare responses preemptively. He also ordered close management of U.S. investment projects, including a detailed review of variables arising during negotiations and implementation and faster resolution of pending issues through interdepartmental cooperation. Lee reaffirmed price stability as the foundation of livelihood stability and said the ministry must help address polarization by using the policy capacity created by economic recovery to spread growth more broadly across regions, classes and industries. He said economic growth must produce tangible improvements in people’s lives, while also pursuing a higher potential growth rate. Lee called for closer coordination among tax policy, treasury management, international finance and public policy, alongside the Deputy Prime Minister’s economic-policy coordination, inter-ministerial and external-cooperation roles. He said personnel decisions should recognize effort and achievement, declined to hold a separate inauguration ceremony and instructed staff to maintain operational continuity. His message urged officials to listen to citizens and find answers on the ground, while Lee pledged to continue coordinating decisions and sharing responsibility for the policies he had pursued as Vice Minister.