"Let's do 'real' work instead of show-off" … President Lee orders 'No Tie Cabinet Meeting'

Amid an unprecedented heatwave, President Lee Jae-myung, cabinet ministers, and presidential office staff attended the cabinet meeting all dressed in 'no tie' attire, capturing attention.

On the 8th, President Lee presided over the cabinet meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, without a tie.

Not only President Lee, but also cabinet ministers arrived at the meeting room with their ties loosened. Some attendees reportedly entered the conference room wearing ties but hurriedly loosened them after President Lee's entrance.

This change is interpreted to stem from President Lee's emphasis on 'practicality' over 'formality' in governance.

Before the meeting started, Minister of Science and ICT Yoo Sang-im shouted "No Tie," prompting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho to be seen loosening his tie.

Foreign Minister Park Tae-youl was seen adjusting his attire with a flustered expression, while senior officials like the Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency also followed the protocol and removed their ties.

During the cabinet meeting, President Lee requested each ministry to "establish a control tower to lead the achievement of the goal of becoming a global leader in defense, and to consider regularizing the 'Defense Export Promotion Strategy Meeting'." He also requested the review of child safety measures ahead of the upcoming summer vacation period.

After the cabinet meeting, President Lee had lunch at the presidential office cafeteria with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik.

After lunch, he held a tea time with the press corps. This marks the third instance since his inauguration in June that President Lee has engaged in tea time with reporters in the cafeteria or convenience store within the grounds.

Earlier, on his first cabinet meeting, President Lee appeared with kimbap, a symbol of a quick meal, stating "action is more important than formality," calling for a break from existing formalities.

Following this, the cabinet meetings have been conducted as 'practice-focused meetings' every week, prioritizing actual discussions and feedback over visual materials like PPTs or reports, and involving private experts and civil servants in the meetings.

Meanwhile, experts recommend 'no tie' as a method to provide relief from summer heat and to improve work efficiency, noting that removing a jacket and loosening a tie can lower body temperature by about 2 degrees.

Image Source: On the 8th, President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the cabinet meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan. / News1, YouTube 'Lee Jae-myung', on the 8th, President Lee Jae-myung is presiding over the cabinet meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. / News1