Concerns Over ER Crisis and Falling Approval Ratings... Busy Holiday for Yongsan

Presidential Office Monitors Emergency Medical Situations Daily
Post-Holiday Czech Visit... Final Preparations Underway
Deliberating Public Sentiment Recovery Measures to Reverse Approval Ratings

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Regional Emergency Medical Center at Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, on the 13th, inspecting the interior of the center while moving around with Lee Hyun-seok, Director of Seoul Medical Center, and Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol plans to visit medical, security, and livelihood sites during this year's Chuseok holiday and manage matters related to his upcoming overseas trip immediately after the holiday, maintaining a busy schedule. Especially given the significant concerns about an 'emergency room crisis' during the holiday period due to the departure of residents and others, the Presidential Office intends to share daily updates with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to maintain vigilance.

According to the Presidential Office on the 14th, President Yoon will continue his activities related to the public's right to life and health, focusing on medical, safety, and security matters during the Chuseok holiday. Earlier, Presidential Office spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon stated, "Despite the Chuseok holiday, we will visit those who are unable to be with their families and are dedicating themselves on the front lines for the Republic of Korea to offer encouragement and gratitude," adding, "We plan to visit police stations, fire stations, and military units to encourage the soldiers."

Concerns Over Emergency Room Crisis Persist... Presidential Office "Daily Checks"

Due to significant public concerns about medical service gaps during this holiday, the Presidential Office remains on high alert. A senior official from the Presidential Office said, "We will stay vigilant throughout the holiday and check the situation daily with the Ministry of Health and Welfare," adding, "We are maintaining communication channels to be ready to respond immediately to any emergency."

President Yoon also visited Seoul Medical Center and the Central Emergency Medical Center the day before to check on the medical situation. At the site, he said, "Listening to the voices from all sectors of the medical community and ensuring greater compensation for medical staff who endure more hardship and difficult treatments is the core of medical reform." The government is making all-out efforts by increasing the number of hospitals open during Chuseok to about 8,000 and temporarily raising the specialist consultation fee at regional emergency medical centers by 3.5 times.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the 10th at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Overseas Trip to Czech Republic Immediately After Holiday... Final Preparations

From the 19th to the 22nd, immediately after the Chuseok holiday, President Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee are scheduled to visit the Czech Republic. During this trip, President Yoon will express his determination to successfully complete the new nuclear power plant construction project in Dukovany, Czech Republic, which was secured in July, and actively engage in sales diplomacy to secure additional nuclear power projects.

Consecutive meetings with Czech President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala, as well as signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on trade, investment, advanced technology, and supply chains, are also planned. President Yoon is expected to carry out final preparations for the trip during the holiday. Although President Yoon has expressed the stance of "not coming to work on holidays," some aides plan to work during the holiday to manage affairs. A Presidential Office official said, "Overall, there is a strong working atmosphere."

Approval Ratings at Historic Low... Yoon's Plan to 'Regain Public Support'

The steadily declining approval ratings are expected to be a burden for President Yoon during the holiday. According to a survey conducted by the public opinion research company Gallup Korea from the 10th to the 12th, polling 1,002 adults nationwide aged 18 and over, 20% gave a positive evaluation of President Yoon's job performance, while 70% gave a negative evaluation. This is the lowest rating since President Yoon took office. Attention is focused on whether the Presidential Office will change its national governance approach after the holiday.

During last year's Chuseok holiday, President Yoon also held public schedules every day for four days, effectively having a 'working holiday.' A Presidential Office official said, "President Yoon has never really taken a break on holidays and continues to work," adding, "Medical reform and nuclear power are not easy, but he is working on creating countermeasures and finding solutions." During his five-day summer vacation, President Yoon focused on political planning and, upon returning to work, announced the '8.15 Unification Doctrine' and the '4+1 Reform' plan.