[Inside Chodong] Yoon's Livelihood-Focused Activities: Time for Another Shift

Recently, a former official who left the Presidential Office described various public opinion poll results, including the president's approval ratings, as an "uncomfortable burden to keep beside." Due to differences in tendencies among media outlets commissioning the polls and the polling agencies conducting them, not all data can be trusted. However, since the majority of the public interprets the 'numbers' as outcomes, it is an area that cannot be ignored.

The Presidential Office has consistently maintained a stance of "not being swayed by every fluctuation" regarding the president's approval ratings reflected in polls. This is based on the judgment that being overly conscious of approval ratings could foster a mistaken perception that policies and messages are crafted solely to boost ratings. Even during periods when approval ratings fell to the 20% range, the office only offered the fundamental response that the president is "listening to the voices of the people."

Recently, however, the atmosphere within the Presidential Office has changed. Feeling a crisis after the by-election for the Gangseo District Office, the president, aides, and the cabinet have been making desperate efforts to listen to the 'voices of the people.' They even compiled and disclosed data from aides' field visits. Moreover, as the president's message to prioritize people's livelihoods brought about some change in approval ratings, the office appears to be urging aides and the cabinet to increase their on-site activities.

Yet, indicators suggest that even these efforts have reached their limits. Looking at the president's approval rating trends, the effect of the 'livelihood-focused activities' seems to have already worn off. At a site where the president personally inspected the private loan market to support ordinary citizens, his somewhat harsh message?"Those criminals who suck the blood of the weak will be severely punished to regret it for life"?ultimately did not help reach the 40% approval rating needed to sustain momentum in a presidential system.

Therefore, a new shift is needed from now on. If changes began with livelihood-focused activities, the next step should be strides toward integration and cooperation. While everyone rushed out to visit the field, there is a need to heed criticism that they only ran in one direction. Even looking at President Yoon Seok-yeol's recent activities, he only appeared at events hosted by the three major government-affiliated organizations: the Korea Freedom Federation, the Saemaul Undong Central Association, and the Barun Living Movement Council. This contrasts with his absence from the first anniversary memorial for the Itaewon tragedy, which was deemed a 'political event' during the same period.

The extent to which the 'humble attitude' shown in the recent policy speech is possible must also be communicated to the public. Although the ruling and opposition parties have clashed over bills such as the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting Three Acts, President Yoon seemed aware of criticism that his communication with the National Assembly was insufficient at the time. He promised, "Coming to the National Assembly and having many conversations with our lawmakers was the most comfortable and joyful day since my inauguration," and pledged, "I will listen carefully to many opinions regarding state affairs and the National Assembly."

The sincerity of future 'livelihood-focused activities' also needs to be examined. On the 1st, during an emergency economic and livelihood meeting in the form of a town hall meeting chaired by the president under the title of livelihood activities, it was revealed that a participant who criticized Kakao Mobility's fee monopoly was a key member of the People Power Party, sparking criticism from some quarters that it was a 'livelihood show.' Considering that President Yoon strongly condemned the monopolistic structure targeting Kakao and banks, and that the companies immediately began discussing improvement plans, the situation could have easily backfired.

At this point, President Yoon himself should reflect on whether he is trapped in another secluded palace. The public remembers his determination not to "avoid unpopularity" and not to "put on a show." There is concern that the early administration's resolve not to repeat the failures of past governments that failed to properly understand the people's will might be buried under shallow calculations of public opinion. / Political Affairs Department Deputy Chief Reporter Baek Kyunghwan