**”U.S. Tariff Negotiations Should Avoid Disadvantageous Situations Compared to Other Countries”**
“Payment Method for Public Livelihood Recovery Fund: Reviewing Financial Authorities’ Proposal”
President Lee Jae-myung expressed, “Setting a target for approval ratings is meaningless, but I hope they are higher at the end than at the beginning,” during an impromptu press conference on Air Force One while traveling to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to attend the G7 Summit.
President Lee stated that he intends to do his best to achieve higher approval ratings and pointed out that in his previous public offices, his approval ratings were higher when he left than when he started. He emphasized the importance of actual improvements in the public’s lives, rather than just superficial changes, indicating that the ultimate evaluation will be made by the people.
Regarding tariff negotiations with the U.S., he stressed the need for a mutually beneficial outcome and pointed out that diplomacy should not disproportionately favor one side. He highlighted the importance of not finding oneself in a more disadvantageous position compared to other countries during negotiations, acknowledging the complexity of the situation.
On the subject of the public livelihood recovery fund organized through the second supplementary budget, President Lee suggested a mixed approach to payment methods, balancing universal and differential support. He noted that if the supplementary budget focuses on stimulating consumption, not providing benefits to those who pay more taxes could be seen as a form of reverse discrimination. Therefore, equal support might be more suitable unless it specifically targets income support.
He acknowledged the importance of stimulating consumption among low-income individuals, as they tend to spend more of their income, and signaled the need for further discussions with financial authorities and governmental coordination.