The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS stars shine brighter as solo artists

  • 3

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 5

    30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data

  • 7

    Rowoon leaves SF9 to focus on acting career

  • 9

    Korea urged to adopt China exit strategy amid hegemonic war

  • 11

    INTERVIEWPutin uses summit with NK leader to stop Seoul from helping Ukraine: expert

  • 13

    Netflix's 'Song of the Bandits' blends western action with Korean period series

  • 15

    Unfreezing of funds not likely to restore Korea-Iran ties

  • 17

    Merck emphasizes digitalization in semiconductor market

  • 19

    National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief

  • 2

    '30 Days' promises laughter, unlikely romance

  • 4

    North Korean escapees tell how nuclear tests ruined their health, hometown

  • 6

    ITZY's Lia takes break to put mental health first

  • 8

    USFK soldier, 2 women arrested for drug trafficking

  • 10

    Seventeen to drop 11th EP next month

  • 12

    Foreign ministry asks Japan to investigate case of Korean poisoned with bleach in Tokyo

  • 14

    Lamborghini driver suspect sent to prosecutors over parking dispute in Gangnam

  • 16

    Seoul plans to build Jamsil Sports MICE Complex

  • 18

    Invasion of 'smart' albums

  • 20

    All BTS members renew contracts with HYBE: agency

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, September 22, 2023 | 14:02
Politics
Ruling party struggling to distance itself from President Moon
Posted : 2021-07-09 17:55
Updated : 2021-07-11 12:26
Jung Da-min
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil, center, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil, center, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

President Moon still enjoys solid job approval rating in final year in office

By Jung Da-min

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its presidential hopefuls are in a dilemma over whether to distance themselves from President Moon Jae-in in the lead-up to the next presidential election in March, 2022.

To appeal to voters who want a change in leadership, the ruling camp and its presidential hopefuls need to create a different image from the current administration. But at the same time, the President's job approval rating has still remained at a solid 40 percent in his final year in office, making it hard for them to turn their backs on him.

Lee Cheol-hee, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, issued a politely-worded warning to the ruling party's presidential hopefuls telling them not to attempt to distance themselves from the President by confronting him to raise their own presence.

"There have been no other presidents before Moon who had 40 percent approval ratings in their fifth year in office," Lee said during a YouTube talk show at local broadcaster JTBC, Tuesday, referring to Moon's relatively high approval in the last year of his single, five-year term. "I believe no one will be able to become the next president by antagonizing President Moon," Lee said.

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil, center, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun
Presidential contenders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) attend an event held by the party to present their policy pledges, at Yeon Studio in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. From left are former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, former DPK Chairman Lee Nak-yon, Rep. Park Yong-jin, South Chungcheong Province Governor Yang Seung-jo, Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon, and Rep. Kim Du-kwan. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

For Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, the front-runner among presidential contenders of the DPK, a major hurdle in moving up to the final round of the party primary is a possible backlash from enthusiastic supporters of Moon. Lee, who competed against Moon in the primary for the 2017 presidential election, often made outspoken comments critical of Moon during his campaign. But this time, he is refraining from criticizing the administration's policies.

Announcing his presidential bid in a video released through online channels including YouTube and Facebook, July 1, Lee said, "I will add, fill and fix policies built on the foundation of proud governments under Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in."

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil, center, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun
Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, the front-runner among eight presidential contenders from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, makes a policy presentation at an event organized by the party as a part of its primary, held Wednesday at Yeon Studio in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Joint Press Corps

Other DPK presidential contenders are also refraining from criticizing the main policies of the current administration, although they are pointing out some failures of the administration, such as its attempts to stabilize soaring apartment prices and the ineffective vetting of some key government officials who have been embroiled in corruption scandals.

But at the same time, the DPK is struggling to draw public interest in the primary, as attention is rather being focused on the main opposition People Power Party and other opposition contenders, reflecting the public's desire for change. Such a trend was evidenced by the DPK's crushing defeat by the PPP in the April 7 mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan. Political observer attributed the DPK's election defeat to its policy failures especially in creating jobs and stabilizing housing prices, as well as real estate speculation scandals involving employees of the state-run Korea Land and Housing Crop. (LH) and some ruling bloc figures.

On taking office in early May, DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil vowed all-out efforts to overcome the ruling bloc's crisis, saying he would pay more attention to the opinions of the general public.

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil, center, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

In a forward-looking move, Song apologized at a party press conference, June 2, for having caused disappointment especially among young people, over former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's alleged use of his position to help his children get admitted to prestigious universities.

But Song's efforts to create a fresh image by distancing the DPK from Cho also faced a backlash from some party members. As part of the primary, the party organized an event July 4 where three experts would interview the contenders about their policies. The party initially appointed Kim Kyung-yul, an accountant who was one of the authors of a book that accused the former justice minister of corruption, as a member of the expert panel. But the party withdrew the decision after facing strong opposition from some party members.


Emaildamin.jung@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
130 people purchased 8,000 homes: data 30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data
2National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chiefNational Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief
3Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion
4Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea
5S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China
6KG Mobility seeks breakthrough in Europe KG Mobility seeks breakthrough in Europe
7Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany
8COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022 COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022
9Shilla hotel in Da Nang recognized at World Travel Awards Shilla hotel in Da Nang recognized at World Travel Awards
10Civil servant mentor reappointed as labor ministry spokesmanCivil servant mentor reappointed as labor ministry spokesman
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse' BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'
2Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25 Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25
3Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman'
4[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
5Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group