Yoon's Changed Public Press Conference... Reduced Statement Length, Focused on Persuasion

Apologizes Early in Speech by Standing Up
Answers Reporters' Questions Without Limit
Hopes for Yongsan Internal Approval Rating Rebound

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a "National Address and Press Conference" on the morning of the 7th at the briefing room of the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

President Yoon Suk-yeol's national address and press conference on the 7th showed differences from previous ones in terms of format, content, and tone. The length of the address was significantly reduced, and the proportion of the Q&A session was greatly increased to focus on resolving the public's questions. Considering the controversy over 'self-praise' at the last press conference, President Yoon stood up and bowed his head at the beginning of the address, saying, "Everything is my fault."

The national address on this day started at 10 a.m. and lasted about 15 minutes. Compared to the government briefing on August 29 (42 minutes) and the 2nd anniversary press conference on May 9 (22 minutes), the pre-address length was significantly shortened.

As the Q&A time was extended, President Yoon began the press conference seated. Rather than reading the address verbatim, he focused on conveying sincerity. Early in the address, he stood up, moved beside the podium, and bowed his head. President Yoon said, "My sincerity has always been with the people," but also added, "I caused concern to the public due to matters around me."

Considering the controversy over 'self-praise' due to the emphasis on the four major reforms (medical care, pensions, labor, education) and government achievements at the August press conference, this time the focus was on clarifying suspicions surrounding First Lady Kim Keon-hee and Mr. Myung Tae-gyun.

The plan is to overcome the crisis through an 'all-out press conference' style, answering all questions from reporters regardless of topic or field. In previous press conferences, President Yoon received about 19 to 20 questions, but this time there was no limit on the number of questions. After answering questions, President Yoon even asked, "Is there anything else you are curious about?" showing his determination. The Chief of Staff, Policy Chief, National Security Office Chief, as well as all senior secretaries attended the press conference.

Attention is focused on whether public opinion toward President Yoon will reverse after this press conference. In May, according to Gallup Korea, the president's approval rating remained largely unchanged at 24% before and after the press conference, and around the August press conference, it actually dropped from 27% (4th week of August) to 23% (1st week of September).

Inside the presidential office, there is hope that President Yoon's approval rating will rebound to the 20% range after the press conference. However, voices both inside and outside the presidential office warn that if there is no public opinion rebound despite the press conference, it may be difficult to manage the situation. If effective, it could restore momentum for governance, but if perceived as a weak explanation, it could have the opposite effect.