During a press conference at the Government Seoul Building, Kim noted, "The election results may be dragging down the overall approval ratings of the party and government."
Coincidentally, a poll released on the same day showed that negative evaluations of President Lee Jae-myung's performance have surpassed positive assessments for the first time since his inauguration, marking a 'dead cross.'
Kim emphasized, "The government and ruling party's approval ratings are like a relay race. Over the past year, President Lee has led the national support ratings with a level of leadership that is hard to improve upon, yet the election results fell short of expectations. We must reflect on this."
He added, "Now that the elections are over in the first year of the government's term, the party and government must cooperate in perfect alignment. It is crucial for the party to support the president's governance to raise overall approval ratings."
Kim also indicated his intention to return to the party and work towards restoring its approval ratings, which he believes will lead to a recovery in national support and strengthen governance momentum.
Regarding the intensifying competition for party leadership within the ruling party, he remarked, "Debate and conflict can occur, but exceeding reasonable limits is undesirable. If the party becomes divided, it will lower the standards of all party members, which must not happen."
He advised, "It is best to refrain from derogatory language towards those with differing views, regardless of which side one is on. We will strive for unity and harmony within the party. The Democratic Party must elevate its dignity as the ruling party."
On the issue of judicial reform, Kim reiterated his belief that abolishing the supplementary investigative authority is necessary at this point.
Regarding potential reforms to property holding taxes and capital gains taxes, he stated, "I have consistently said that we will carefully consider these matters and not make hasty decisions."
Speculation in political circles suggests that the government may adjust the property tax and capital gains tax systems, focusing on multiple homeowners and 'non-resident high-value single homeowners,' in a tax reform plan expected to be announced in July.
Kim reflected, "Looking back, tax issues have always been open for discussion in various economic policies, including real estate matters. I believe there will be opportunities for the policy authorities to explain this separately."
Before the press conference, the Office for Government Policy Coordination released reference materials titled 'Prime Minister Kim's 12 Major Achievements,' highlighting key accomplishments such as hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, attracting a global artificial intelligence (AI) hub, and resolving internal conflicts.
Immediately after the press conference, Kim departed for China. He is scheduled to deliver a special speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Dalian, Liaoning Province.
This marks the first time a South Korean Prime Minister has attended the WEF summer Davos Forum since Hwang Kyo-ahn in 2016.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by Realmeter at the request of the Energy Economy Newspaper from June 15 to 19, involving 2,517 voters aged 18 and older, found that President Lee's approval rating was 46.7%, while disapproval stood at 49.7%.
Both surveys were conducted using a 100% wireless automated response method. The margin of error for the presidential approval rating survey is ±2.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, with a response rate of 4.2%. The margin of error for the party approval rating survey is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, with a response rate of 3.3%. For more details, please refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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