"Did They Recklessly Make Promises Without Considering Financial Situation?"... Cold Response from 2030 Who Supported Yoon

Soldiers' Monthly Pay 2 Million Won, Controversy Over 'Promise Retraction' on Ministry of Gender Equality Abolition Worsens Public Sentiment
Yoon's Camp: "Not a Promise Retraction. Will Implement After Social Discussion"

President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol visited Chuncheon Station in Gangwon on the 4th to inspect the railway infrastructure construction site. President-elect Yoon promised to fulfill key campaign pledges, including the extension of the GTX-B line to Chuncheon and the early completion of the East-West High-Speed Railway connecting Chuncheon and Sokcho, while inspecting the site.
/Chuncheon=Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The sentiment of the 2030 generation, who supported President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, is shifting. During the presidential campaign, Yoon gained attention and support with so-called 'one-line pledges' targeting the 2030 generation. However, as the key pledges were either excluded from or modified in the 110 national tasks, controversy over 'retreat' has arisen. Combined with public opposition to relocating the presidential office and ethical controversies surrounding ministerial nominees, analyses suggest that support from the 2030 generation is wavering.

According to the National Barometer Survey (NBS) conducted from the 2nd to 4th by Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research, surveying 1,002 people aged 18 and over nationwide (sampling error ±3.1% at 95% confidence level, 100% wireless), 52% of people in their 30s responded that President-elect Yoon would 'perform poorly' in state affairs. Only 41% gave a positive outlook, saying he would 'perform well.' This contrasts sharply with the 70s (75%), 60s (65%), and 50s (61%), where positive outlooks were above half.

Among those in their 20s, positive outlooks (47%) and negative outlooks (48%) were similar. However, compared to the steady strong support Yoon enjoyed from the 2030 generation during the presidential campaign relative to other candidates, expectations seem to have declined.

President-elect Yoon focused on winning the votes of the 2030 generation during his candidacy. His concise and attention-grabbing one-line pledges such as 'guaranteeing a monthly soldier salary of 2 million won' and 'abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF)' drew significant attention. In particular, the pledge to raise soldiers' monthly pay to 2 million won received strong support from young men in their 20s (I-dae-nam). According to exit polls by the three major terrestrial broadcasters during the election, 58.7% of men in their 20s voted for Yoon.

The defection of the 2030 generation, Yoon's core support base, is analyzed to be largely influenced by the recent controversy over pledge retreats. The Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) announced on the 3rd that among the 110 national tasks, the pledge to immediately guarantee a 2 million won monthly soldier salary upon inauguration was shifted to a phased increase approach. The pledge to abolish MOGEF, which Yoon had publicly declared, was not included in the national tasks.

At the parliamentary confirmation hearing on the 4th, Defense Minister nominee Lee Jong-seop acknowledged the pledge retreat regarding the 2 million won soldier salary, stating, "We seriously considered actively pursuing it, but due to unfavorable fiscal conditions, we adjusted it to a gradual increase." Relatedly, online communities mainly used by the 2030 generation, such as 'Bobaedream,' saw posts expressing disappointment like "Did they make pledges without considering the financial situation?" and "They talked big but stabbed us in the back."

Criticism has also been directed at the lack of communication during the process of relocating the presidential office to the Ministry of National Defense and the ethical controversies surrounding ministerial nominees, which are seen as factors worsening public sentiment. President-elect Yoon stated that the purpose of relocating the presidential office was to 'strengthen communication with the people.' However, many within and outside the political sphere criticized the move as being rushed without sufficient discussion and review.

A survey conducted by Gallup Korea from the 3rd to 4th targeting 1,000 people aged 18 and over found that the top reason for negative evaluations of Yoon's job performance was 'relocation of the presidential office (32%).' The initiative intended to enhance communication ironically backfired. The next reasons were 'personnel appointments (15%),' 'insufficient pledge fulfillment (10%),' 'autocratic and unilateral (7%),' and 'lack of communication (5%).'

As criticism spread, Yoon's camp moved to clarify that the changes were not pledge retreats or cancellations. On the 5th, the spokesperson office of the president-elect sent a notice to the media stating, "We reaffirm our position to pursue the pledge to abolish MOGEF to keep our promise to the people," adding, "However, we will proceed after thorough review of the functions and roles performed by MOGEF, centered on the minister, and sufficient social discussion."

Regarding the pledge to raise soldiers' monthly salary to 2 million won, they also stated, "Budget experts were centrally involved in the pledge-making process to thoroughly check feasibility," adding, "The PTC selected national tasks under the principle that 'pledges must be kept.' After the government is launched, we will concretize the national tasks and surely fulfill our promises to the people."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.