President Lee calls on aides to preemptively prepare for 'all scenarios' despite Middle East cease-fire
Published: 09 Apr. 2026, 19:24
Updated: 09 Apr. 2026, 20:11
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- SARAH KIM
- [email protected]
![President Lee Jae Myung, left, takes questions as he presides over the first plenary meeting of the National Economic Advisory Council at the Blue House in central Seoul on April 9 to discuss measures to mitigate the Middle East conflict's impact on the economy. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/09/53c64705-f6de-48ad-95c2-398ee02c9eeb.jpg)
President Lee Jae Myung, left, takes questions as he presides over the first plenary meeting of the National Economic Advisory Council at the Blue House in central Seoul on April 9 to discuss measures to mitigate the Middle East conflict's impact on the economy. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
During a meeting with senior presidential aides, Lee stressed that "while the situation in the Middle East has entered a new phase through the recent cease-fire agreement between the United States and Iran, one must by no means be optimistic about the outcome and must prepare meticulously, and pre-emptively, for all possible scenarios," presidential spokesperson Jeon Eun-su said in a press briefing at the Blue House in central Seoul.
Lee instructed that "all diplomatic capabilities and networks be fully mobilized to ensure the safe return of Korean sailors and vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz."
He also called to "accelerate efforts to secure additional crude oil and key raw materials, make a major transition to renewable energy and innovate the industrial structure.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States agreed to conditionally suspend the bombing of Iran for two weeks on the condition that Tehran immediately reopens the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Israeli strike on Lebanon on Wednesday is threatening the cease-fire deal.
There are 26 Korea-linked vessels, including oil tankers, stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint.
Lee urged presidential aides to fully engage in "securing additional crude oil and key raw materials" to ensure the stable management of plastic, vinyl and medical supplies.
![President Lee Jae Myung, right, speaks at a meeting with senior presidential aides at the Blue House in central Seoul on April 9. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/09/76313532-d29c-4ed4-8052-36b35286a7cb.jpg)
President Lee Jae Myung, right, speaks at a meeting with senior presidential aides at the Blue House in central Seoul on April 9. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
"Regardless of when or how the Middle East war concludes, a completely different world will undoubtedly open up before and after the conflict," Lee said. "We must make thorough preparations accordingly."
He said this includes accelerating the diversification of energy sources, a transition to a renewable energy-centered society and the innovation of the industrial structure, alongside stepping up efforts to strengthen future growth engines such as AI, next-generation small modular reactors and AI robots.
Earlier Thursday, Lee presided over his first plenary meeting of the National Economic Advisory Council, stating that it was time for the nation to fundamentally change its economic system to deal with rising oil prices and inflation resulting from the war in the Middle East.
"In the short term, the war in the Middle East poses a significant threat to our economy, but in the long term, it is time for Korea's economic system to undergo a fundamental transformation," Lee said, expressing his intentions to turn the economic crisis caused by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran into an opportunity for a new leap forward.
Lee expressed a need for continued vigilance regarding external uncertainties.
"The current situation may be resolved soon, but on the other hand, there were reports of bombings even today despite the cease-fire between the United States and Iran," Lee said. "It is difficult to know exactly when this situation will be resolved."
![Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, left, shakes hands with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on April 8 in Kazakhstan. Kang visited the Central Asian country as President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy as a part of a three-nation tour and discussed boosting cooperation in energy, transport and logistics during the meeting with the with the Kazakh leader. [BLUE HOUSE]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/09/b3538e8d-a72f-440b-ac6d-8539966f697b.jpg)
Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, left, shakes hands with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on April 8 in Kazakhstan. Kang visited the Central Asian country as President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy as a part of a three-nation tour and discussed boosting cooperation in energy, transport and logistics during the meeting with the with the Kazakh leader. [BLUE HOUSE]
"In a crisis, everyone adopts a mindset to accept change, so we must use this as an opportunity to create a springboard for a leap forward in building a new system," Lee said.
During the meeting, Lee also called to create policies that "genuinely benefit workers in the long term."
Regarding youth employment issues in particular, Lee noted that "companies want talented individuals with experience, but the reality is that young people lack even the opportunity to build a career," calling for more effective youth employment policies. He also proposed improving the treatment of nonregular workers.
He also signaled the possibility of imposing large-scale property taxes on corporate-held nonbusiness real estate.
"Why do companies hold such large amounts of real estate when they don't need it immediately?" he asked, instructing a review into the possibility of imposing massive liabilities on such ownership.
Later Thursday, Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, in a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, emphasized the need for the “swift and safe resumption of free navigation for all vessels, including Korean ships” and requested continued attention to the safety of Korean nationals in Iran.
Cho welcomed the cease-fire agreement between Washington and Tehran, which he said has “paved the way for the resumption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
He also “expressed his hope that negotiations between the two sides would be successfully concluded to restore peace and stability in the Middle East as soon as possible.”
Araghchi agreed to continue communicating on related matters. The two sides also agreed on Korea sending a special envoy to Iran to discuss the Middle East situation.
BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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