President Yoon Suk Yeol needs to present a new image soon
Revelations made by a dubious pollster regarding the first couple have plunged the ruling camp into a deep quandary that the nation’s chief executive must address in a manner different from his previous approaches.Breaking his silence on a leaked phone conversation that allegedly reveals an "exchange" of party nomination for opinion surveys between President Yoon Suk Yeol and self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun, People Power Party chairman Han Dong-hoon has directly called on Yoon to issue an apology and implement a comprehensive overhaul of the presidential office. The president promised to hold a news conference on Thursday to address the series of scandals.
In pressing for an apology, Han used some of the strongest language yet, saying that Yoon's style of leadership has been "dogmatic," which has fueled public resentment. This reflects a growing sense of crisis within the ruling party. A series of political scandals affecting the administration has intensified, particularly after that leaked phone call revealed a conversation between the president and the political broker about an alleged exchange of nomination for by-elections in return for unpaid opinion surveys. Last week, the president's approval ratings dipped below 20 percent. The People Power Party (PPP) urged the president to uphold his commitment the principles of fairness and the rule of law. PPP-affiliated mayors and governors, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, have called for a revamp and improved communication with the public.
There is both anticipation and a hint of trepidation ahead of the press conference. The president's track record with past press conferences has been disappointing. Instead of directly addressing controversies, such as the first lady accepting a luxury bag or the cleared allegations of stock manipulation, the president has often focused on highlighting his achievements and offering half-hearted apologies. In February, he said it was "regretful" that his wife could not "cold-heartedly cut off" the gift from a Korean-American pastor. He only issued a more sincere apology three months later, following the PPP's loss in the general elections. The political alarm triggered by Myung’s statements and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) push for a special counsel investigation into the first lady necessitates the president to speak clearly and act on these pressing issues.
That should include Han's repeated requests for the first lady to refrain from public activities, as well as the president's appointment of a special inspector to investigate potential corruption involving the presidential family.
Han's demands are much less extreme than those of the DPK, which is calling for a special counsel investigation into the first lady. To date, opposition-led efforts in the National Assembly have attempted to pass two special counsel investigation bills regarding the first lady, both without success, and a third is planned. In addition to pursuing a special counsel probe, members of the opposition and some civic groups are participating in weekend rallies that openly discuss the possibility of impeaching the nation's chief executive.
Admittedly, the crisis looming over the ruling bloc is serious enough to warrant some deep reflection. We hope this explains Yoon's absence from delivering a budget speech at the National Assembly, which is the first instance in 11 years that a president has not attended. This is the second time the chief executive has been absent from the legislature. The DPK's previous boycott of the president's speech certainly does not help the situation. Nonetheless, Yoon should strive to be a leader who engages in politics as well as governs effectively.
The press conference should provide clear explanations regarding the administration's four major reforms: labor, healthcare, education, and pensions. These should be concise and to the point. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has already addressed these reforms on behalf of the president, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation to successfully implement them and to strengthen defense as North Korea increases its collaboration with Russia. The public is aware of these issues. The president acknowledged that the past two and a half years have not been easy while pursuing reforms in these areas. With a large opposition bloc dominating the legislature, the challenges to achieving these reforms have intensified, especially as he approaches the halfway mark of his five-year term. The president must convincingly demonstrate how he intends to navigate these turbulent waters.
English (United States) ·