Yoon Orders Staff on 'Follow-up Measures After Overseas Trip' Early in the Morning

Presidential Office: "In follow-up measures, each ministry level will begin consultations with the concerned countries"
President Yoon secures contracts and MOUs worth 27 trillion won during Saudi Arabia and Qatar visits
Domestic issues pile up... President Yoon likely to personally seek solutions for public welfare for the time being

President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 27th instructed his aides to take follow-up measures after his recent Middle East tour. From the 21st, during a 4-night, 6-day state visit?the first by a Korean president to Saudi Arabia and Qatar?President Yoon secured contracts and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) worth approximately $15.6 billion (21.1 trillion KRW) in Saudi Arabia and about $4.6 billion (6.2 trillion KRW) in Qatar. Combined, the total amounts to $20.2 billion (27.3 trillion KRW).

According to the Presidential Office on the 27th, President Yoon shared the tour’s achievements with his aides early in the morning and received reports on domestic and international issues. A senior official from the Presidential Office stated, "From now on, detailed consultations with the respective countries will begin at each ministry level as part of follow-up measures stemming from the summit meetings with Saudi Arabia and Qatar."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In Saudi Arabia, President Yoon achieved the adoption of a joint statement for the first time in 43 years and opened the door to large-scale defense industry cooperation. The joint statement included specific cooperation items in areas such as ▲trade and investment ▲construction and infrastructure ▲defense and defense industry ▲new cooperation. They also laid the foundation for cooperation to ensure the success of infrastructure projects related to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing 'NEOM Project' and giga projects such as Qiddiya, Red Sea development, ROSHN, and Diriyah. In Qatar, the two countries elevated their relationship to a 'comprehensive strategic partnership.' Notably, during the summit with the Emir of Qatar, they signed a single contract for the construction of LNG carriers worth $3.9 billion (5.2 trillion KRW), the largest ever.

Just one day after returning from the Middle East tour, President Yoon delivered a message on follow-up measures and is expected to soon instruct cabinet ministers and other government officials on ways to achieve tangible results. Another Presidential Office official added, "Since contracts and MOUs were concluded through the state visit, prompt action by each ministry is necessary."

While follow-up measures are being carried out at the ministry level, President Yoon is expected to personally visit the field to seek solutions for people’s livelihoods. Given that the Ukraine war and the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas are causing international oil prices to rise and entrench inflation, he intends to hear directly from citizens facing difficulties.

Earlier, on the 19th, President Yoon stated, "From the Chief of Staff at Yongsan to senior aides, secretaries, and administrative officers, no one should just sit at their desks; they must delve into the field where people live and hear their vivid, living voices directly." He also pledged, "I will personally delve deeper into the difficult realities of the people’s livelihoods." Chief of Staff Kim Dae-gi and other aides recently met with small business owners, employees of the Seoul Postal Service Headquarters, and officials from Neulbom School to listen to public sentiment. A Presidential Office official elaborated, "Since President Yoon said he would delve into people’s livelihoods, he will increase field visits and spend time resolving various domestic issues."

However, there are also pressing issues inside and outside the Presidential Office that need to be addressed. Many aides are either retiring or preparing to retire as they hope to run in the April general elections next year, so new aides must be recruited. The nomination of a new Minister of Gender Equality and Family is also urgent. Former nominee Kim Haeng, who was embroiled in controversies over 'stock parking' and 'breach of trust' and caused a stir by walking out during a parliamentary audit, voluntarily resigned on the 12th, leaving Minister Kim Hyun-sook to perform the duties. President Yoon must nominate a new candidate, but since the opposition party is demanding a 'total cabinet resignation,' he must present a candidate with no flaws.

The controversy over former Secretary Kim Seung-hee’s resignation remains a hot issue. Due to a school violence controversy involving Kim’s child, the opposition party alleges that the Presidential Office knew in advance, tried to downplay the situation, and is attempting to cover it up with the drug use allegations against actor Lee Sun-kyun.

Regarding the highly anticipated trilateral meeting between President Yoon and the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, no decision has been made yet. Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Lee Jin-bok mentioned, "Representative Kim Ki-hyun said, 'Let’s meet with me first,' so we need to observe the situation a bit more," and the Presidential Office also avoided a direct answer, stating, "We need to watch the situation regarding the meeting of party leaders."