[Yoon's 100-Day Press Conference] Emphasizing National Tasks and Avoiding Direct Answers to Sensitive Questions in 54 Minutes (Summary)

-President Yoon's First Press Conference Since Inauguration... Focus on National Policy Direction and Past Achievements
- "Do Not Want Change in North Korea by Force... Negotiations Must Not Become a Show," Notable Message on North Korea
- Reaffirmation of Laws and Principles on Labor Issues... "Accurate Analysis and Solutions Needed for Causes of Labor Disputes"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Baek Kyunghwan and Lee Gimin] On the 17th, marking 100 days since his inauguration, President Yoon Suk-yeol stated, "The most important thing in running the government is the people," and pledged to "work tirelessly." Regarding the recent low approval ratings, he expressed a fundamental stance, saying, "We will carefully and meticulously examine things from the people's perspective." On internal party issues, including former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, he avoided a direct response, stating, "I have never commented or expressed any position on politicians' remarks." President Yoon focused his first press conference since taking office on highlighting the future direction of the government and the achievements of the past 100 days.

At the 100-day press conference held at the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, President Yoon reflected, "Looking back on about a year since I started politics, and now at 100 days since my inauguration, I always keep in my heart that 'the people are the beginning, the direction, and the goal.'" He emphasized the achievements of the new government's policies over the past 100 days, including ▲opening the Blue House and relocating the presidential office to Yongsan ▲restructuring the presidential office ▲strengthening the Korea-US alliance and international solidarity ▲private sector-led economic policies ▲management of the low-income economy ▲stabilization of housing and rent prices ▲phasing out nuclear power ▲advanced science and technology ▲defense industry exports ▲and reestablishing labor-management culture, highlighting policies that differentiate from the previous administration.

◆"We have worked hard for the people's livelihood economy... Fiscal capacity will be used for the socially vulnerable"= President Yoon evaluated the policy direction pursued by the new government over the past 100 days amid the expanding instability of the global economy as "We have worked hard to revive the people's livelihood economy. We have devoted ourselves to industrial advancement and fostering future strategic industries to find future growth engines for our economy."

He particularly emphasized, "We abolished erroneous economic policies like the income-led growth (Soju-seong)," and "We thoroughly normalized the economic direction to be centered on the private sector, market, and ordinary people," adding, "We changed the economic direction to align with global standards. We restored common sense." President Yoon mentioned, "I will personally chair the Regulatory Innovation Strategy Meeting and boldly innovate regulations that hinder leaps and growth."

He also reiterated the need for austerity and expenditure restructuring in the public sector, saying, "The government must not waste taxpayers' money." President Yoon stated, "We will operate finances as soundly as possible, and the fiscal capacity secured through this will be used to provide stronger support for the low-income and socially vulnerable. This is the fiscal management principle of our government."

He hinted at accelerating major national tasks, saying, "We will nurture science and technology talents to strengthen the foundation of the semiconductor, space, and bio industries," and emphasized, "We announced a strategy to achieve semiconductor superpower status covering companies, personnel, technology, and materials, parts, and equipment to maintain the technological gap in the semiconductor industry, which is the core of future industries and a national security asset." He added, "By abolishing the unilateral and ideology-based nuclear phase-out policy, we revived our world-class nuclear power industry," and pledged to expedite the resumption of construction on Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4.

◆"We do not want change in North Korea by force"= The message regarding inter-Korean relations was considered the most notable part. President Yoon said, "If North Korea halts nuclear development, we will provide diplomatic support, including normalization of US-North Korea relations, and discuss conventional weapons disarmament." When asked by reporters about his 'Bold Initiative' and whether he plans to propose talks to the North, he replied, "Since the election process, I have said dialogue with the North is necessary," adding, "However, dialogue or negotiations between South and North Korean leaders or working-level talks must not become political shows but should lead to the establishment of real peace in Northeast Asia."

However, he said, "The South Korean government cannot guarantee the North Korean regime," and "But I and our government do not want any forced or power-based changes in the North." Regarding whether he plans to propose official talks to the North as mentioned in the August 15 Liberation Day speech's 'Bold Initiative,' he responded, "The most important thing is sustainable peace between the two Koreas, and if North Korea naturally changes as a result of various economic and diplomatic support we provide, we only welcome that change."

Regarding the denuclearization roadmap announced earlier on Liberation Day, he emphasized, "If they show such firm will, we will do everything we can to help, so this is different from before."

On the 17th, the live broadcast of President Yoon Seok-yeol's 100-day inauguration press conference is taking place in the Seoul Station waiting room. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

◆Avoided direct answers on causes of approval rating decline and internal party conflicts= On this day, President Yoon avoided direct answers on sensitive issues such as approval ratings and internal party problems. Regarding former leader Lee Jun-seok's recent criticisms targeting President Yoon, he said, "As president, I have been focused on stabilizing people's livelihoods and national safety, so I haven't had the chance to properly follow what other politicians have said."

He implied his intention to refrain from direct responses, adding, "Also, from the election campaign last year until now, I have never commented or expressed any position on other politicians' political remarks, so I hope people consider that."

Regarding the decline in government approval ratings, he said, "Rather than the approval rating itself, I will humbly accept the public sentiment reflected in the polls." President Yoon explained, "We will carefully and meticulously examine the various pointed issues from the people's perspective," and "We plan to closely identify any problems in the operation and implementation of organizations, policies, and tasks, as well as any communication issues."

However, on personnel reshuffles, he said, "To carefully serve the people and their livelihoods, we must conduct a very thorough review," adding, "It should not be done with political motives such as political phase shifts or approval rating rebounds," and "It will take time."

When asked whether he would continue the doorstepping (Q&A on the way to work) style despite controversies over his attitude and answers, he said, "I will still do it." President Yoon explained, "The biggest reason for moving the presidential office to Yongsan was doorstepping," and added, "If the people say not to do it, I cannot, but our country is a liberal democracy, and as a presidential system country, the president's work process should be transparent to the people and subject to sharp criticism and various feedback from them."

◆"Labor-management issues require law and principles... Analyze causes and prepare alternatives"= President Yoon's remarks on 'law and principles' regarding labor-management issues, which he raised after a long time, also drew attention.

When asked, "Some unions are intensifying their struggles, and the president has always emphasized law and principles. There are concerns it could escalate into a strong confrontation. Do you have any alternative plans?" he reiterated, "The principle of consistently maintaining law and principles regardless of labor or management is important."

He first said, "Labor movements in industrial sites becoming illegal and militant beyond the law cannot be solved by a single alternative plan at once," adding, "I think it can be resolved as a culture of consistently and predictably adhering to a consistent principle is established." He emphasized the importance of maintaining consistent law and principles regardless of labor or management and said, "It is important for the government to continue expressing its position so that the market accepts the government's consistent principles."

Regarding the expectation that law and principles might lead to a strong confrontation, he countered, "The current labor law system we have was created by public consensus as a way to fundamentally resolve labor-management conflicts and problems, so saying 'law is not important' or 'law alone cannot solve it' makes problem-solving difficult." He stressed, "Rather than immediately deploying public authority to suppress situations when violations occur, we should first allow time for dialogue and compromise, and if that fails, then handle matters according to the law. Such a culture must be established," emphasizing the importance of the government's consistent application of law and principles.

Just before the press conference ended, President Yoon also expressed the government's stance that it should participate in accurately analyzing the causes of labor disputes and preparing alternatives. He explained, "In the case of the subcontractor union strike last time, it is important to fundamentally consider and create alternatives regarding whether their wages and labor compensation are fair and the issue of labor market polarization."

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