President Lee’s first month: Lee governs through citizen-centered reforms

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

This Thursday marks President Lee Jae Myung's 30th day in office.

One month in, he's setting a notably open tone for the presidency.

From declaring himself the "president for all" to rolling out the People's Nomination System and launching the People's Mailbox, President Lee has placed citizen engagement at the heart of his early governance.

With emergency economic measures also underway, his administration is signaling speed, visibility, and direct response.

But as these symbolic moves begin to meet institutional reality, the question now is whether this participatory model can truly take root—and what it means for the future of Korean democracy.

In our first installment marking one month of the Lee Jae Myung presidency, we take a closer look at Lee's style of governance—how it's unfolding, what it promises, and where it may be headed.

For this, we're joined in the studio by Kim Jun-mo, Professor at the Department of Public Administration at Konkuk University. Welcome.

Also joining us is Lee Hee-eun, Dean and Professor of Law at Handong International Law School. Welcome.

(KIM) First, let's go back to President Lee's inaugural promise – he declared himself the "president for all" and vowed to break with divisive politics.

Prof. Kim, how would you evaluate the administrative and symbolic weight of that statement?

(KIM) Then came the "People's Nomination System" where citizens could recommend top officials, such as ministers.

From a public administration view, how feasible and effective is this in real personnel vetting and selection?

(LEE) From a legal standpoint, the system promised transparency and fairness. But under current laws governing presidential appointments, how binding are these public-sourced recommendations, and where do legal constraints begin?

(KIM) Soon after, the President launched the "People's Mailbox," where citizens can directly submit questions online.

The presidential office says all submissions are reported to President Lee, and he'll personally respond to significant ones.

As a public participation tool, how would you assess its real potential to shape governance, beyond symbolism?

(LEE) That platform replaced the previous public petition board. From a constitutional rights perspective, does this more filtered model still respect citizens' right to petition and the need for transparent dialogue?

(KIM) Just days later, President Lee held a town hall meeting in Gwangju, personally listening to local concerns like the stalled military airport relocation.

Could this be a model for localized, citizen-driven governance moving forward?

(LEE) Staying with the Gwangju initiative – President Lee ordered a six-party government-local task force to mediate the airport dispute.

Legally speaking, how clear is the framework for such ad-hoc coordination bodies, and could there be risks of jurisdictional overreach?

(LEE) President Lee says this is a move toward "citizen-sovereignty" and away from ideology-based politics.

Constitutionally speaking, is this kind of pragmatic presidency compatible with Korea's legal-political system?

(KIM) Finally, looking back on this first month – President Lee has repeatedly framed his presidency as a turning point for "real democracy" and "citizen-centered governance."

In practical terms, what does that look like? And what signs should we watch for in the months ahead?