Yoon on Personnel Reshuffle Theory: "Not About Political Gains... Planning to Implement Substantively for the People"

President Yoon: "Comfort Women Issue is a Matter of Human Rights and Universal Values"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol said on the 16th regarding the calls for personnel reshuffling at the presidential office, "Any change should be aimed at properly taking care of the people's livelihood and meticulously ensuring their safety, not about weighing political gains and losses."

President Yoon made this remark around 9 a.m. on his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office when asked by reporters whether he thought a change in the personnel composition of the presidential office was necessary around the 100th day of his inauguration (the 17th).

He continued, "Since my inauguration, I have been running busily due to various matters, but since the vacation period, I have had my own thoughts, and I plan to make thorough, practical, and substantial changes as a renewal for the people," he emphasized.

Regarding the heavy rain damage, he said, "The rain front has moved southward, causing significant damage in the northwest region of Chungnam and Jeonbuk," adding, "There are many cases of house flooding and crop damage, and I have instructed the relevant officials to carefully monitor the damage situation and promptly devise support and countermeasures." He also mentioned that efforts are being made to prevent landslides in the metropolitan area and central regions.

About his afternoon schedule to meet Bill Gates, co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, President Yoon said, "He is someone who has worked hard to ensure that people in difficult countries can still have equitable access to vaccines and treatments," and added, "We also plan to discuss so-called health justice to participate in protecting and expanding freedom from diseases for economically disadvantaged global citizens."

Regarding criticism that there was no mention of the issue of Japanese military comfort women victims in his Liberation Day speech the previous day, he said, "We have been deeply considering various measures even before this government was launched."

He added, "Yesterday, I spoke about the general direction without going into detailed stories, but you can consider that the intent includes all of that," and said, "The comfort women issue is also related to human rights and universal values, isn't it? I think it can be understood that way."