Issues including Lowering Elementary School Entrance Age, Pelosi's Visit to US House Speaker, and Presidential Office Construction Contract
National Approval Rating at 24% and Changing Stance on Public Opinion Polls
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Office revealed that although President Yoon Seok-yeol spent his first summer vacation from the 1st to the 5th in what is called a 'mudujeol' (no official events period), the office struggled to explain sudden issues surrounding it.
According to the Presidential Office on the 7th, from the 1st to the 5th, excluding written briefings and statements, officials held nine face-to-face briefings with reporters, and when extended to the weekend of the 7th, the total reached 11 sessions.
Except for the 3rd and 5th, briefings were held more than twice a day. Compared to the usual one to two briefings daily when President Yoon is working, the officials effectively had no 'mudujeol'. In addition to major economic and social issues, a text message exchange with Kwon Seong-dong, acting leader of the People Power Party and floor leader, before the vacation became controversial. After the vacation, they also dealt with negative issues such as the controversy over the admission of five-year-old children to elementary school and allegations of private contracting related to First Lady Kim Geon-hee's residence construction.
On the 4th, when Nancy Pelosi, who visited Korea, held meetings with National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and visited Panmunjom, three briefings were conducted. This was amid controversy over the fact that President Yoon did not meet with Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who visited Korea on the 3rd and 4th, and that Korean officials did not greet Pelosi at the airport upon her arrival, leading to accusations of protocol neglect. Regarding this, the Presidential Office explained that officials took turns stating, "President Yoon had decided on his vacation before Pelosi's visit was confirmed, so no meeting took place," and "Protocol for Speaker Pelosi is the responsibility of the National Assembly." Later in the afternoon, Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, also stepped forward to inform the public about the situation, including details of a phone call meeting with Speaker Pelosi.
During President Yoon's vacation, his approval rating dropped to the mid-20% range, prompting some change in attitude among Presidential Office officials regarding certain issues. According to a public opinion poll released by Gallup Korea on the 5th (survey conducted nationwide from the 2nd to the 4th among 1,001 adults aged 18 and over, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level; detailed information available on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website), 24% responded that President Yoon was "doing well," while 66% said he was "doing poorly."
In the past, when asked about the decline in President Yoon's approval rating, a Presidential Office official said, "We will not be swayed by every rise and fall." However, on the 5th, the stance changed, stating, "Public opinion polls are important data and indicators that allow us to read the public sentiment along with media reports," and "We will listen to the people's will and work to address any shortcomings."
The official added, "It has been less than three months since the Yoon Seok-yeol administration was launched," and "The Presidential Office is committed to making the Republic of Korea a decent country where the people live well together. We earnestly ask for your support once again so that we can overcome the economic crisis and leap forward."
Even on the day before President Yoon's return from vacation, a Presidential Office official stood before reporters to explain the schedule after the president's return. Regarding calls for a personnel reshuffle among aides, the official said, "It is entirely the decision of the appointing authority, so it is difficult to make assumptions or predictions as a potential appointee," but added, "Since it has been less than three months since the inauguration, it is expected that the president will urge the aides whose shortcomings have been revealed to make renewed efforts."
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