Yoon Faces Embarrassment from Myeong Taegyun and Kim Yeo-sa... Approval Rating Hits Lowest Since Government Inauguration

Consistent Silence on Yongsan-Related Allegations
Han Dong-hoon Scheduled for a Private Meeting Early Next Week

President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating has remained in the 20% range for three consecutive weeks, marking the lowest point since the government was launched. President Yoon completed his tour of three Southeast Asian countries? the Philippines, Singapore, and Laos?seeking to boost his approval rating through diplomatic achievements. However, he is facing difficulties in finding solutions amid issues involving Myung Tae-kyun and First Lady Kim Kun-hee.

On the 14th, the presidential office remained silent despite Myung Tae-kyun, known as a "political broker," continuing his daily expos?s. While Myung claims to have operated the polling firm "Future Korea Research Institute" and asserts his role by mentioning influential politicians such as Oh Se-hoon, Kim Jong-in, Lee Jun-seok, and Ahn Cheol-soo, those involved deny these claims, intensifying the battle over the truth.

The scale of the allegations is growing like a snowball, but the presidential office, holding the key to the matter, has refrained from commenting on Myung even after the tour. Although Myung's expos?s are becoming increasingly dramatic, concerns that responding to each claim from Yongsan could exacerbate the situation seem to be influencing this restraint.

A presidential office official stated, "There is no need for Yongsan to be swayed by the exaggerated and one-sided claims of a mere political broker," indicating that they will continue to maintain silence on the related allegations. Another presidential aide pointed out, "At a time when efforts are being made to make the president's tour achievements visible, unnecessary energy is being spent clarifying Myung's related allegations." While Yongsan does not hide its displeasure regarding Myung's allegations, it appears to be strictly maintaining confidentiality.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, attending the ASEAN Summit, arrived at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, on the 9th (local time) and are disembarking from Air Force One, their exclusive aircraft.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The presidential office is also feeling embarrassed by People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon's repeated mentions of First Lady Kim Kun-hee's issues. Especially, Han's calls for the First Lady to refrain from public activities, his remarks on the inevitability of prosecuting her in connection with the Deutsche Motors case, and his specific demands for reform of the "Hannam-dong line" around the First Lady have raised the stakes, causing discomfort. However, it is known that the presidential office will refrain from issuing related statements until after the October 16 by-elections.

A pro-Yoon official said, "It is by no means desirable for Leader Han to directly target the presidential office," and sharply questioned, "I wonder why the ruling party leader continues to raise issues publicly instead of addressing them directly in private meetings." According to political circles, President Yoon and Leader Han plan to hold a private meeting early next week after coordinating schedules following the October 16 by-elections to discuss current political issues.

As Yongsan's concerns deepen over the Myung Tae-kyun and First Lady Kim Kun-hee issues, analysis suggests that the approval rating is also in a dire situation. A Realmeter survey commissioned by Energy Economy Newspaper, conducted from the 7th to the 11th among 2,009 voters aged 18 and older nationwide (with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of ±2.2 percentage points), showed President Yoon's positive evaluation of his state affairs at 25.8%, the lowest since the government’s launch. Negative evaluations of President Yoon's state affairs rose by 3.2 percentage points from the previous week to 71.3%, breaking the previous record high of 70.8%.

Um Kyung-young, director of the Era Spirit Research Institute, said, "From Yongsan's perspective, there may be some unfairness, but it is difficult to maintain silence when even the ruling party leader emphasizes the public's expectations in the current situation," adding, "If the presidential office does not show a progressive change in attitude toward First Lady Kim, such as accepting a dual special investigation, before it is too late, governing the country after next year will inevitably become more difficult."