Seoul - President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea is set to hold a press conference on Thursday at 10 a.m., a day before the second anniversary of his presidency, his office announced on Monday. This event marks his first press interaction in 21 months and comes at a critical time in his administration.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Yoon will open the conference with a video statement outlining his policy achievements over the past two years and his agenda for the remainder of his five-year term. The press conference, to be held at the presidential office, is Yoon's first since August 2022, which coincided with the 100th day of his office. Yoon had opted for a televised interview over a New Year press conference earlier this year.
The upcoming press briefing follows significant political developments, including a major loss for Yoon’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) in last month's parliamentary elections, where the opposition Democratic Party (DP) secured 192 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly. Following this defeat, Yoon has shown a willingness to engage more actively with the opposition, having held discussions with DP leader Lee Jae-myung.
At the press conference, Yoon is expected to address various issues, including contentious legislation pushed through by the DP, which calls for a special counsel investigation into the military's handling of a Marine's death last year. The presidential office has criticized the bill, accusing it of politicizing the tragedy.
The PPP has expressed support for the press conference, viewing it as an opportunity for Yoon to address livelihood issues and outline his strategic vision. Meanwhile, the DP has called on Yoon to accept the special investigation bills concerning allegations involving the first lady and the young Marine’s death. DP spokesperson Choi Min-seok emphasized the importance of this press conference as a pivotal moment for Yoon to align with public sentiment, particularly in light of the recent general election results.