SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung will hold an agenda-free press conference Friday, with questions expected over whether he would seek a second term under any constitutional revision.
The press conference will begin at 10 a.m. at Cheong Wa Dae's Yeongbingwan, or state guest house, presidential communications chief Sung Ki-hong said Tuesday.
The event, Lee's seventh press conference since taking office, is expected to last about 90 minutes and will be attended by around 150 domestic and foreign journalists. It will consist of Lee's opening remarks, a question-and-answer session and closing remarks.
Questions will be divided broadly into politics and foreign affairs, and policy and the economy, although reporters will be free to raise other major issues.
“This press conference will be an occasion to convey the president's firm commitment to reform, his governing principle of putting people's livelihoods first and a message of stronger national unity,” Sung said.
Lee will also “make clear and explain to the public his position and direction on major pending issues,” Sung added.
Cheong Wa Dae plans to arrange seating to reduce the distance between Lee and reporters and will also introduce real-time comments from members of the public during the event.
The conference comes as Lee faces his weakest public approval numbers since taking office.
A Realmeter survey released Monday put Lee's approval rating at 33.8 percent, down 3.6 percentage points from the previous week and marking a ninth consecutive weekly decline. His disapproval rating rose 3.8 percentage points to 63.3 percent.
Realmeter cited uncertainty over housing policy and controversy surrounding Lee's recent Cabinet reshuffle among factors weighing on his support. The poll also showed a particularly sharp drop among voters in their 20s and liberal voters.
The conference is also expected to draw questions over a continuing controversy surrounding constitutional revision and presidential reelection.
Lee said on Aug. 14 that he had consistently supported changing South Korea's current single five-year presidential term to a four-year system allowing a president to serve a second term, saying such a system would make possible greater political accountability through a midterm public assessment.
The proposal prompted the opposition People Power Party to demand that Lee explicitly promise not to seek another term.
During a meeting with South Korean residents in Paris on Sept. 9, Lee appeared to respond to the controversy, saying, “My term is clearly limited under the Constitution.”
Cheong Wa Dae later said the comment meant reelection by Lee was not possible, but opposition politicians have continued to press him to state unequivocally that he would not seek another term.
Rep. Son Myung Soo of the ruling Democratic Party welcomed the opportunity for Lee to address the public directly.
“I think it is a meaningful occasion for the president to communicate directly with the public,” Son said.
AJP Takeaways
- President Lee Jae Myung will hold a press conference Friday as his approval rating falls to a new low.
- Lee is expected to face questions over Cabinet nominations, housing policy and controversy surrounding presidential reelection.
- The event will be Lee’s seventh press conference since taking office, with about 150 domestic and foreign journalists attending.
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