Controversial Yoon Doorstepping Temporarily Suspended, "Because COVID Spread..."

-First omission except for local schedules... Presidential Office "Will discuss and decide on operation timing and methods"
-Major security and work reports proceed as planned... Kim Joo-hyun to be appointed Financial Services Commission Chairman in the morning

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Seok-yeol's doorstepping (brief press conference on the way to work) has been temporarily suspended. Since his inauguration, President Yoon had never skipped doorstepping except for local field visits, but he could not avoid the impact of the COVID-19 resurgence. However, there have been criticisms of the counterproductive effects of doorstepping not only from the Blue House but also within the ruling party, leading some to interpret this suspension policy as linked to the recent sharp decline in approval ratings.

On the 11th, President Yoon went to the Yongsan Presidential Office without doorstepping for the first time since his inauguration. A Blue House official stated, "Due to confirmed cases among the press corps, operational adjustments are inevitable," and added, "We will reconsider the timing and method of operation in light of the COVID-19 spread trends."

Doorstepping is one of the new government's trademarks introduced by President Yoon to strengthen communication with the public. While his efforts and will for non-authoritarian communication were highly praised, his unrefined remarks were also perceived as a battleground for political factionalism. According to a public opinion survey conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI) commissioned by TBS on the 8th and 9th, targeting 1,002 adults nationwide aged 18 and over, 47.3% cited "answering without preparation" as the cause of the recent ongoing controversies over the president's press Q&A on the way to work. This response was dominant across all genders, ages, occupations, and regions except Daegu and Gyeongbuk.

Inside the Blue House, discussions are underway to introduce a new form of doorstepping in response to the COVID-19 resurgence. Besides applying enhanced quarantine measures, there is a possibility of changing the operational method. This is based on the judgment that frequent misunderstandings arise during the interpretation process due to the rapid exchange of questions and answers within a short time.

However, President Yoon decided to proceed with the scheduled agenda on the day. Following the morning meeting of senior secretaries presided over by the president, he will have his third luncheon meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. During the morning, the appointment of Kim Joo-hyun as Financial Services Commission chairman will also be approved. In the afternoon, the first work report of the new government is scheduled, where he will receive a one-on-one departmental work report from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Choo Kyung-ho. Earlier, on the 8th, President Yoon held an emergency economic and livelihood meeting with relevant ministers at the Yongsan Presidential Office to seek livelihood measures.

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