與 "Show Break with Previous Government" vs 野 "Empty Carts Make the Most Noise"

Conflicting Evaluations from Ruling and Opposition Parties on President's 100-Day Inauguration Press Conference

President Yoon Suk-yeol is pointing to a reporter who raised their hand to ask a question during the 100-day inauguration press conference "Listening to the President" held at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 17th. / Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The ruling and opposition parties gave contrasting evaluations of President Yoon Seok-yeol's 100-day inauguration press conference held on the 17th. The People Power Party positively assessed that "it showed a policy stance differentiated from the previous administration," while the Democratic Party criticized it as "nothing more than self-praise."

Yang Geum-hee, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, released a statement that day saying, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has run tirelessly to fulfill the hopes, expectations, and promises of the people who achieved a regime change despite the unprecedented internal and external economic and security crises and the difficult political situation of a minority government."

She continued, "At today's press conference, President Yoon thoroughly explained to the public the major state affairs pursued over the past 100 days and future plans, including economic policy and tax normalization, fostering advanced science and technology and future industries, and labor-management culture based on law and principles." She emphasized, "President Yoon's 100 days have focused on fundamental and essential policies and will continue to do so. The People Power Party will carry out state affairs for the people together with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."

Floor leader Kwon Seong-dong also wrote on Facebook, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration was launched amid adverse conditions such as economic and livelihood crises and intense confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties." He evaluated, "I believe this press conference was an opportunity to clearly explain to the people the policy achievements that had been overshadowed by political conflicts over the past 100 days. Above all, it well demonstrated the policy shift that broke away from the previous administration."

On the other hand, the Democratic Party criticized it as "an embarrassing act of self-praise." Spokesperson Jo Oh-seop said in a briefing at the National Assembly communication office, "President Yoon Seok-yeol's 100-day inauguration press conference was all sound and no substance. The saying 'a noisy empty cart' fits perfectly."

He added, "Although much time was spent on the opening remarks containing the achievements and reflections of the past 100 days, it was nothing more than embarrassing self-praise, and there was no real content. There were probably few citizens who sympathized with the listed achievements," he said, "and the Q&A session with reporters was filled with lame excuses, disappointing both the public and journalists."

Emergency Committee Chairman Woo Sang-ho also said at the emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly, "President Yoon must take seriously the fact that many citizens are giving a low evaluation of the Yoon administration's 100 days."

At the 100-day inauguration press conference that morning, President Yoon revealed the government's achievements so far and future plans. As policy achievements, he mentioned the abolition of the previous administration's income-led growth and nuclear phase-out policies, as well as sales diplomacy demonstrated at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit.

Regarding the low approval rating, he said, "More important than the approval rating itself is to humbly accept the public sentiment reflected in the polls," adding, "I will carefully and meticulously examine the various pointed issues from the people's perspective."