100-minute video filmed on the 4th released
Broadcast dialogue referencing G7 leaders' examples
Includes President Yoon's plans on politics, economy, and diplomacy
Presidential office space and foreign leaders' gifts also introduced
President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to express his views on a wide range of issues during the New Year's interview on the 7th, including the controversy over First Lady Kim Geon-hee's receipt of luxury handbags, his relationship with the ruling party leadership such as Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, as well as economic and diplomatic matters.
President Yoon reportedly revealed his plans for the third year of his administration in the 100-minute broadcast titled 'Special Interview: Visiting the Presidential Office,' which will air at 10 p.m. on KBS 1TV. The interview recording took place on the 4th at the Yongsan Presidential Office and lasted about two hours.
The interview covered a Q&A format on major issues such as price control, interest rates, medical reform including the expansion of medical school quotas, Neulbom School, low birthrate, stock market, Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the ruling party-minority opposition dynamic, Korea-Japan relations and the Supreme Court ruling on forced labor compensation, Korea-U.S. relations and the U.S. presidential election, Korea-China relations, the Ukraine-Russia war, economic security, inter-Korean relations and inter-Korean summits, and nuclear deterrence.
In particular, President Yoon is also expected to address political issues such as his relationship with the ruling party leadership, the controversy over First Lady Kim's luxury handbag receipt, the possibility of talks with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, the exercise of the right to request reconsideration (veto power), and political terrorism.
Regarding the controversy over First Lady Kim's receipt of luxury handbags, there is a growing call for strengthening public and institutional management, including the establishment of a second secretariat and the appointment of a special inspector, and President Yoon's stance on this is also expected to be revealed.
Additionally, through this recorded interview, parts of the presidential office building such as President Yoon's office, the State Council meeting room, and the exhibition space for gifts from foreign dignitaries will be shown to viewers.
The Presidential Office has been reviewing various communication methods with the public, including the New Year's address on the 1st of last month, a New Year's press conference, luncheon meetings with reporters, and interviews, and ultimately selected a special interview with KBS.
President Yoon has not held a separate press conference since the '100-day inauguration press conference' in August 2022, but conducted a New Year's interview with Chosun Ilbo last year.
The Presidential Office is also known to have referred to the practices of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders during its internal review process. For example, the leaders of France and Germany deliver New Year's addresses, the U.S., U.K., and Canada hold broadcast interviews, and Japan and Italy conduct press conferences.
It is reported that President Yoon responded spontaneously without separate materials during the recording, with his aides present.
President Yoon Suk-yeol, after finishing the recording of KBS's "Special Interview: Visiting the Presidential Office" at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 4th, introduced to KBS anchor Park Jang-beom a vintage baseball memorabilia frame gifted by U.S. President Joe Biden during his state visit to the White House in April last year. [Image source=Yonhap News]
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