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| ▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Jan. 29, 2026. (Yonhap) |
Lee-AI
Lee urges stronger social safety net to address side effects of AI-led polarization
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for efforts to strengthen the social safety net and ease side effects from expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, stressing thorough preparations for the AI transition.
Lee addressed growing concerns over changes in the job market in the AI era, citing opposition by the labor union at Hyundai Motor to the deployment of AI-powered humanoid robots on production lines as an example of mounting anxieties.
"We cannot avoid the huge wheel rolling toward us. In the end, we have to adapt quickly," Lee said during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae.
He noted that his earlier pledge to expand the social safety net during his tenure as a mayor of Seongnam, south of Seoul, is gaining broader support amid the rapid spread of AI technologies.
"There appears to be a growing consensus on the need for basic social policies to prepare for extreme polarization in an AI-driven society," he said.
Lee voiced concern over the future of an increasingly polarized labor market, in which wealth is concentrated among those who own the means of production, while others are pushed into low-paid jobs or work in areas where robots cannot operate.
"If this is a world that will inevitably arrive, we need to prepare for it, even step by step," he said. "The government should recognize this as soon as possible, provide opportunities for learning, and create chances for many people to take part in production by using AI as a tool."
During the meeting, Lee also called for efforts to speed up legislation and the implementation of major policy initiatives to deliver tangible improvements to people's livelihoods.
"I want you to move faster in both the legislative and administrative processes. Whether it's seeking cooperation from the National Assembly or implementing policies, I want things to proceed swiftly," Lee said.
"At times, I can't sleep well because the list of tasks is piling up like a mountain," he added.
He did not mention a specific bill, but his remarks drew attention amid growing pressure from the United States on South Korea to pass a special investment bill to swiftly implement their bilateral trade deal, which includes Seoul's US$350 billion investment pledge.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced plans to increase "reciprocal" tariffs and auto, lumber and pharmaceutical duties on South Korea from 15 percent to 25 percent, citing a delay in the Asian country's legislative procedures supporting the implementation of a bilateral trade deal finalized in October.
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