[WEEKLY FOCUS] President Yoon answers questions on domestic politics, foreign policy

윤대통령 2주년 기자회견, 국내 외교 정책 전망 정리

President Yoon Suk Yeol held a press conference on Thursday, and gave a message to the nation, as he begins his third year in office on May 10th.
The press conference marks two years since he was voted into office, but with the General Election last month handing over a majority of seats to the opposition, how will he move forward for the next three years?
Our correspondent Oh Soo-young is in studio.
Sooyoung, you were there at the press conference. Was there a message on how the President will run this administration?

Yes, at the press conference, Yoon said he had spent a long time ruminating on the recent electoral defeat of his ruling People Power Party.
Once again, apologising for what he identified as two major points, the first being the economy.
He said despite his efforts to strengthen the foundations of the Korean economy, the changes were not tangible in the everyday lives of citizens.
He also acknowledged that he had failed in communicating his policies effectively and engaging with the public.
Over the past two years of his administration, Yoon has focused on making more long-term, structural improvements such as increasing the competitiveness of Korean businesses, particularly in new, lucrative high tech industries such as semiconductors, as well as reforming the labour, education and pension systems to increase Korea's productivity by removing inefficient practices.
Yoon made it clear that the direction of his policies on fostering a market-driven economy will remain intact ---but he is willing to be more flexible and communicative.


Experts say more communication can help build public discourse and consensus on the pressing issues that Yoon is pushing for.

"They might understand why he's pursuing the policies that he wants to implement. Until now, it was difficult to know. 'cause there was no real explanation as to why the policies he was suggesting were necessary. And I think if he goes straight to the public through the press, I think he will be in a better position to negotiate within the National Assembly, because he may be able to get public opinion, for example, behind his policies."

So in his plan for the next three years, he announced a new ministry to tackle the low birth rate.
What can you tell us about that, among other efforts to improve the country's prospects?

Yes, Yoon announced he'd create a new ministry to respond to the country's chronically low birth rate which is expected to fall below 0-point-7 this year --the lowest in the OECD.
The minister in charge will also act as the Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs --and work on policies combining the fields of education, labour and welfare to create comprehensive solutions.
Going forward, Yoon said he said he will open up an era of supporting the middle and working classes economically and socially.
He also said he remains focused on taming inflation and that he is aware that meal and grocery prices are still high although the overall macroeconomic outlook is improving.

"In terms of the economy, although President Yoon's failed to get across some of his big issues, he hasn't had any major disasters He has been trundling along reasonably well. We have problems with lunch inflation and housing prices, but I think these are issues afflicting much of the developed world at the moment as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic and coming out of that."

3. As this presser was held 21 months after Yoon's previous media conference, journalists were bursting with questions --particularly on the current state of affairs on the domestic front. These include some sensitive issues being debated at the National Assembly.

That's right.
First, he addressed the opposition party's campaign to launch another probe on his wife, First Lady Kim Keon Hee, regarding her alleged involvement in stock manipulation, and accepting a luxury handbag from a pastor in 2022.
In regards to the handbag, Yoon apologised for his wife's imprudent behaviour in front of the some 150 reporters.
He wouldn't comment on the prosecution's current probe into the matter as to not influence the proceedings.
However, on the alleged stock manipulation, he pointed out the fact that an investigation was concluded without finding her guilty under the previous opposition-held administration.
He said it had been a political move targeting him at the time.
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2024-05-11, 12:00 (KST)