The Shinyongsan Era Without 'Shotong' and 'A4'... Yoon: "Will Carefully Attend to the People's Voices"

Passport "Nuclear Power and Defense Industries Suppressed Under Previous Administration Now Key Industries... An Era Without Proxy Communication" Evaluation Also

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] On the 18th, President Yoon Suk-yeol said about the press conference held the previous day marking his 100th day in office, "The purpose yesterday was to carefully listen to the voices of the people." He reiterated the importance of communication with the public and regarding the reason why the approval rating for government administration remains at a low level, President Yoon stated, "I think it is more important to humbly accept the public sentiment reflected in opinion polls than the approval rating itself," adding, "I will carefully and meticulously examine the various issues pointed out from the people's perspective."

On that day, President Yoon responded to reporters on his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office, saying, "The government philosophy is to find those who have difficulty voicing their opinions and ensure they have fair opportunities." Regarding the omission of achievements related to regional development plans during the discussion of government administration evaluation and future plans the previous day, he said, "Yesterday's announcement was not a comprehensive presentation about all national policies but focused on what has changed since the government changed," and cautioned against overinterpretation by adding, "Everyone in the Republic of Korea should enjoy fair opportunities. We have already mentioned expanding regional financial infrastructure, among other things."

Political circles continue to evaluate President Yoon's first press conference as well as the new government's regional development policies. Criticism includes that too much emphasis was placed on the achievements of the first 100 days, while analysis highlights clear differentiation from the previous administration. Especially within the ruling party, there is a noticeable effort to accelerate the new government's policy implementation by comparing the Blue House 100 days ago with the current Presidential Office.

A senior ruling party official evaluated, "The nuclear power industry, which was abandoned by the Moon Jae-in administration, and the defense industry, which was suppressed, have rapidly emerged as leading export industries of the Republic of Korea, enhancing competitiveness in the international community." President Yoon also said the previous day regarding nuclear power policy, "By abolishing the one-sided and ideology-based nuclear phase-out policy, we have revived our world-class nuclear power industry," adding, "Construction of Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plants Units 3 and 4 has resumed, environmental impact assessments are underway, and we will expedite the resumption of construction as much as possible."

There are also evaluations of the Yoon administration's promise to return the old, secluded Blue House to the people. The official said, "The so-called 'show communication' has disappeared, such as the A4 papers that were in the president's hand every day during the previous administration, opening an era of practical and realistic communication with the people." Indirectly evaluating the Q&A sessions held during the president's commute since his inauguration, he added, "The era of new Yongsan communication with the people has begun, where proxy communication?where the president reads and aides answer?and communication intermediaries have disappeared."

President Yoon also responded to reporters' questions the previous day about whether he would continue the doorstepping, which had caused controversy over his answers and attitude, saying, "To conclude, I will continue." He emphasized, "If you all tell me not to do it, I cannot do it, but in a liberal democracy, for example, in a presidential system, the president's duties should be transparent to the people, and the president should receive sharp criticism and various feedback from the public." He added, "In the past, the press office was in a separate building called Chunghwagwan, but I have taken measures to allow the press room to be on the first floor here where I and my aides work together."

President Yoon also stressed, "Many people worried about me during my vacation said that the doorstepping was lowering the government's approval rating and urged me to stop immediately, but that is the most important reason why I moved the Presidential Office to Yongsan."