Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Moon seeks turnaround with New Year press conference
Media staff set up a stage in Cheong Wa Dae, Friday, for President Moon Jae-in's New Year press conference to be broadcast live at 10 a.m. Monday. Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
President Moon Jae-in will hold a New Year press conference, Monday, seeking a turnaround in his sinking approval ratings, according to political analysts.
The conference comes less than three months before the mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan, which are considered a major litmus test for the 2022 presidential election.
Moon's approval ratings have remained at a record-low 38 percent for two consecutive weeks, according to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday.
“How he tries to send a message of bringing people together over sensitive issues will be extremely important for him to rebound amid concerns over a lame-duck presidency,” said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University.
Beginning at 10 a.m. the conference will be broadcast live for 100 minutes from Cheong Wa Dae.
Over 120 journalists including foreign correspondents will participate, either offline or online, and will be freely able to ask questions.
These range from whether to pardon former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, soaring housing prices, economic recovery measures for COVID-19, the #MeToo allegations against former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon who reacted by committing suicide, prosecution reform, a Cabinet reshuffle, a court ruling against Japan to compensate wartime sex slaves, deadlocked ties with North Korea and relations with incoming U.S. President Joe Biden's administration.
“What the President says about the two former presidents will perhaps be at the center of attention,” Hwang Tae-soon, a political commentator, said.
He noted that political circles have been divided over whether Lee and Park should be released from jail after being convicted in separate corruption cases, after ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon brought up the issue in a media interview.
Chairman Lee faced internal protest from the DPK, with his support rating as its next presidential hopeful plunging.
“This is an explosive issue, and considering the President is the ultimate decision maker over pardons, he may need to think it over to come up with an answer that does not deal a blow to his management of state affairs,” Shin said.
Hwang speculated Moon may suggest solutions to tackle rising housing costs, noting the President apologized over the issue in his New Year address and said he will focus on expanding the housing supply.
A former human rights lawyer, Moon kept mum over the 2019 death of Park Won-soon, and the allegations against him, that have led to the upcoming Seoul mayoral by-election in April.
Also in his New Year address, the President underlined his unchanging willingness to talk with North Korea regardless of the circumstances. This has prompted speculation over his ideas on making a breakthrough in cross border dialogue that has been stalled for two years.