[Yongsan Report] "Opposition Claims Are Nonsense"... Presidential Office Actively Defends Nuclear Power Achievements

Rebutting Opposition Claims Point by Point in Czech Briefing
"Actions That Do Not Help Contracts and Harm National Interest"
Yongsan Needs Public Opinion Turnaround... Highlighting Economic Achievements

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the joint press conference between South Korea and Czech Republic held at Prague Castle, Czech Republic, on the 19th (local time), with Czech President Petr Pavel. [Image source=Yonhap News]

"The opposition's claims are completely baseless nonsense and fake news."

Park Chun-seop, the Chief Economic Secretary of the Presidential Office, met with reporters on the 19th (local time) in Prague, Czech Republic, and after explaining President Yoon Seok-yeol's diplomatic achievements, made a resolute statement. On that day, when opposition parties such as the Democratic Party attacked by saying "there are concerns about trillion-won losses from the Czech nuclear power plant export," the Presidential Office actively rebutted using relatively strong language.

Chief Secretary Park emphasized, "Opposition lawmakers demanded a full review of the Czech nuclear power plant export," adding, "This is sophistry that disparages the President's efforts to create jobs and revitalize the economy." Following Park, Minister Ahn Deok-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy immediately held a briefing, much of which was devoted to countering the opposition's attacks.

Minister Ahn criticized, "Spreading fake news about dumping contracts without any basis does not help future contract negotiations and harms national interests," and stated, "It is also not true that the visit to Czech Republic was hastily arranged." He systematically refuted issues regarding disputes with Westinghouse, concerns about the Czech government's financing, and dumping contracts.

The Presidential Office's strong response to the opposition's claims is interpreted as a determination that it is unacceptable to degrade even economic achievements by turning them into political strife. In fact, there has been growing dissatisfaction within the Presidential Office recently toward the opposition continuously belittling President Yoon's achievements. A Presidential Office official said, "The Czech nuclear power plant export is a hard-won achievement," and added, "Proper evaluation is needed for the efforts made."

This also appears to reflect the intention to seek a turnaround in public sentiment through achievements in livelihood and economic areas amid President Yoon's declining approval ratings. The national approval rating for President Yoon, released on the 13th, recorded the lowest since his inauguration at 20% in a Korea Gallup (telephone interview) survey. For President Yoon, it is a situation where he must raise his approval rating in the latter half of his term to accelerate the remaining structural reform tasks. During the 4-day, 2-night visit to Czech Republic, President Yoon is undertaking a rigorous schedule, meeting consecutively with President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, as well as the speakers of the National Assembly and business leaders.