ED Better communication

Yoon needs to use doorstepping more properly

President Yoon Suk-yeol has been taking questions from reporters and answering them on his way to work 18 times since he took office May 10. Unprecedented in Korean politics, this move is in stark contrast to what his predecessor Moon Jae-in did. Moon held 11 press conferences during his five-year presidency. Yoon letting reporters doorstep him deserves acclaim as it is a new way of communicating with reporters. It is also part of his efforts to keep his campaign promise to become an interactive president.

This is also in line with Yoon's commitment to open a new era of the “Yongsan presidential office” while leaving the secluded Cheong Wa Dae compound. During the doorstepping encounters with the president, journalists asked questions regarding important issues such as his summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, a supplementary budget bill and a general strike by cargo truckers.

Thanks to the impromptu nature of a doorstepping interview with the press, the public can hear Yoon's candid comments, as was the case with contentious issues such as the appointment of disputed minister nominees. Other cases included matters related to noisy rallies against former President Moon Jae-in in front of his residence in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and even some controversies raised by First Lady Kim Keon-hee. Yoon might have been frustrated due to some sensitive queries.

Yet, the doorstepping seems to have been conducive to effective communication between Yoon and the public. We hope Yoon's endeavors to communicate with the people will facilitate his bid to efficiently carry out state affairs without repeating the legacies of his predecessors who suffered setbacks due to a lack of communication with the public.

It seems that Yoon's frank speaking style has helped the people understand his motives on many issues. This can be seen as progress. Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), said last Tuesday, “The President is going a few steps ahead compared to the past. Doorstepping is taking root as a symbol of our government.”

What is worrisome is that Yoon's style of impromptu and straightforward communication can sometimes cause misunderstanding and controversy. For instance, his remarks about the rallies against Moon touched off a dispute. Yoon said, “Such demonstrations are allowed even around the presidential office.” Yoon's aides later explained that he was attempting to stress the need to protect the people's right to hold rallies. But Yoon is taking flak for having failed to come up with more “refined” and “well-coordinated” expressions.

Yoon has also come under fire for remarks that undermined the values of inclusiveness and integrity. When asked whether corruption investigations into core members of the previous Moon government could be seen as political revenge, Yoon said, “Such investigations are natural with the shift of power.” Those comments have triggered a fierce backlash from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea.

As to the dispute involving the first lady, it was not proper for Yoon to say, “It is because I assumed the presidency for the first time.” Doorstepping holds a very symbolic meaning and should be maintained for Yoon and his successors. For this, Yoon should maximize efforts to use more decent and refined language to avoid unnecessary disputes.