Yoon, One Month Since Stopping Doorstepping... 7 SNS Posts and 1 Live Broadcast Communication

Posted on Facebook and Twitter but with limited topics
One-way communication limitations also pointed out
"President Yoon and the Presidential Office still willing to communicate"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] It will be exactly one month tomorrow since President Yoon Suk-yeol stopped doorstepping (brief Q&A on the way to work) on the 18th of last month. Although communication through social networking services (SNS) is being used as an alternative to regular doorstepping, it is evaluated as insufficient due to its one-way nature.

According to the presidential office on the 16th, President Yoon posted 5 messages on his Facebook account and 2 on his Twitter account regarding current issues since his last doorstepping.

Specifically, on Facebook, there were 2 posts about export status and strategy and strict response to illegal acts by the Cargo Solidarity Union, 1 post about the Space Economy Roadmap, and 2 posts related to the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

On the 24th of last month and the 1st of this month, President Yoon emphasized the will of each ministry to support exports and the strategy linking diplomacy and exports, stating, "The global complex crisis must be overcome head-on by promoting exports." In particular, on the 24th of last month, he also issued a warning regarding the Cargo Solidarity Union's collective transport refusal and illegal acts, saying, "We will respond strictly according to law and principle."

Regarding the Space Economy Roadmap (on the 28th of last month), he explained a plan focusing on developing a lunar exploration launch vehicle engine within 5 years, landing on the moon and resource mining by 2032, and Mars exploration by 2045.

Additionally, congratulatory messages for the Korean national football team's advancement to the Round of 16 in the World Cup (on the 3rd of this month) and encouragement posts for the national football team (on the 6th of this month) were posted.

Twitter is mainly used for diplomatic purposes, posting 2 messages including a reply to a telegram sent by Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, as he left Seoul, and welcoming the launch of the Korea-European Union (EU) partnership.

Compared to the 61 doorsteppings conducted during the first six months after President Yoon's inauguration, where on days without morning external schedules he would answer various questions from reporters on his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office building, the topics now are limited.

However, there is criticism that it is one-way communication rather than interactive communication, especially since questions left in comments do not receive answers. Each post on President Yoon’s Facebook account receives about 1,200 to 2,900 comments. However, neither President Yoon nor the presidential office responds to the public’s questions. Moreover, many comments include not only legitimate criticism but also abusive language, political YouTube channel addresses and content, and illegal adult advertisements, making self-regulation difficult.

The presidential office views the possibility of resuming the previous style of doorstepping as low but intends to continue changing communication channels and methods. Recently, the presidential office revamped the newly established Presidential Office Newsroom on its website by adding photo and video news and linking YouTube Shorts, aiming to expand communication channels. They also plan to increase direct communication with the public through meetings such as the recent national agenda review meeting.

The presidential office is planning a second national agenda review meeting in the first half of next year to check on national agendas that were not covered this time. A presidential office official said, "Although doorstepping has been suspended, President Yoon and the presidential office’s willingness to communicate remains strong," adding, "We are preparing various communication methods."

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