Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
DPK calls Yoon's national tours before general election 'illegal'
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a town hall meeting on promoting Daejeon's development at a hotel in the city, Friday. Joint Press Corps
By Nam Hyun-woo
President's town hall meetings in key national centers come under scrutiny
President Yoon Suk Yeol is touring around the country offering ideas on pursuing balanced regional development, but the visits are triggering protests from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which says his appearances are politically motivated canvassing before the April 10 general elections.
Yoon visited Daejeon Friday to hold a town hall policy meeting on developing the city as the "science capital" of the country. Daejeon is home to many of South Korea's R&D institutions and science schools, including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology.
During the meeting, Yoon promised at least 800,000 won ($600) of "monthly stipend for graduate school students" in order to help researchers concentrate on their work without economic concerns.
"We will spare no effort in expanding investments in science and technology and promoting infrastructure innovations to propel Daejeon beyond being just South Korea's science capital, but towards becoming a global hub of advanced science," Yoon said during the meeting.
Yoon also promised to take some sections of the Seoul-Busan and Daejeon-Mokpo railway lines underground to improve Daejeon's accessibility and pledged a prompt feasibility test for a high-speed railway project connecting Daejeon and other cities in the central region of the country.
The town hall meeting came three days after Yoon on Tuesday held a similar meeting in Busan. During the meeting, Yoon rolled out a number of pledges, such as rebuilding the Sajik Baseball Stadium.
President Yoon Suk Yeol greets members of the public at a traditional market in Dongnae District, Busan, Tuesday. Courtesy of presidential office
The visits, however, have drawn doubts because Yoon is touring the politically-important regions with less than two months before the elections are set to take place.
Daejeon and the surrounding Chuncheong provinces have long been categorized as swing regions in South Korean elections, thus serving as a barometer for public sentiment. Those who won in Daejeon won the election in the past seven presidential elections.
Busan and surrounding South Gyeongsang Province have long been a traditional conservative stronghold, but liberal politics has improved its presence in the region in recent years, with the DPK having seven out of 40 seats in the regions in the current National Assembly.
Yoon is anticipated to continue his national tour in the near future, including regions such as Jeolla provinces, because Yoon abruptly postponed his visits to Germany and Denmark, scheduled to start on Sunday.
Though Yoon's office did not elaborate on the reasons for the abrupt postponement, a senior presidential aide said the decision was made after weighing the importance of making the trips as planned and staying in the country to take care of various domestic matters.
Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung, left, speaks during the party's Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. On the right is floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo. Yonhap
The DPK is claiming that Yoon's domestic trips are aimed at assisting the ruling People Power Party's election campaigns.
DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo said Thursday, "Yoon is touring around the country for illegal election campaigns," and "this needs judgment from the National Election Commission."
DPK Rep. Lee Kai-ho said, "During the past two years, Yoon has been making overseas trips at least once a month while neglecting the public livelihood, and he is now cramming for town hall meetings across the country before the general elections."
DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung also slammed Yoon's decision to cancel trips to Germany and Denmark on Friday. The presidential office is citing North Korea's provocations as the reasons for the decision, but Lee says this is nothing more than "an excuse."
"I believe it was an attempt at making an absurd excuse," Lee said. "How could the presidential office use national security to justify the abrupt cancellation of the president's diplomatic events? Is the concern over North Korea's provocation so significant that we must put aside presidential diplomacy? If it is, how can the South Korean economy sustain itself?"