Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed

▲ President Lee Jae Myung presides over a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 31, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee-Cabinet meeting

Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed

By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, March 31 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday instructed senior officials to take bold measures to address concerns over the energy situation caused by the war in the Middle East, saying the government may issue an emergency economic decree if necessary.

"South Korea, which is highly dependent on external markets and relies heavily on energy supplies from the Middle East, requires more thorough inspections and detailed emergency measures," Lee said during a Cabinet meeting.

Lee urged all relevant ministries to closely monitor the situation and take "preemptive and bold action" to ease concerns over potential disruptions of energy supply.

He also said, under the Constitution, an emergency economic decree could be issued if needed.

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