Yoon "Need to Consider Large Constituency System... Promote ROK-US Joint North Korea Nuclear Response Drills"

Han Dong-hoon Draft Rumors: "Isn't It Too Early for Party Leader?"
Yoon: "US Also Positive on Joint Planning and Exercises of US Nuclear Forces"
Regarding Real Estate Soft Landing: "Demand Regulations Should Be Lifted Quickly"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 2nd regarding the electoral district system reform, "There is a need to consider strengthening representativeness through a medium-sized electoral district system."

In a New Year's interview with Chosun Ilbo released that day, President Yoon said, "I have thought so for a long time even before starting politics. Depending on regional characteristics, methods of electing 2, 3, or 4 members can also be considered."

President Yoon diagnosed that the current single-member district system has made elections too fierce and polarized camps, deepening conflicts, and he has expressed a positive stance on the medium-sized electoral district system since his presidential candidacy days.

Regarding the controversy over 'Yunsim (尹心)' within the ruling party, he drew a line by saying, "When I formed an investigation team at the prosecution, I selected the people most necessary to succeed in the investigation, not those who worked with me in the past," adding, "Politics is the same."

He continued, "In the end, we must go with the people who can best fulfill the promises made to the people," and questioned, "How much politics have I done in Yeouido that there would be Yoonhaekgwan (Yoon Suk-yeol's core associates) or Yunsim?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

"Telling key presidential aides to go home"

When asked again if 'Yoonhaekgwan really does not exist,' President Yoon said, "In politics, the term 'key associates' seems to be a phrase used to exclude certain people rather than indicating any position or relationship," and added, "If someone among the president's aides is called a key associate, it sounds like that person should go home."

Regarding rumors of Minister Kwon Young-se and Minister Won Hee-ryong running for party leader, he said, "Whether they run for party leader or for the general election is each person's choice," and responded, "They have all been vetted once, and aren't they competent people in politics?"

On the speculation about Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon's draft into politics, he said, "Isn't it too early for party leader?" and added, "When I asked Minister Han if he was thinking of running for party leader during a phone call, he just laughed."

Regarding North Korea's nuclear response, he revealed that they are promoting a plan for joint planning and exercises of nuclear forces between South Korea and the United States. President Yoon said, that it is difficult to convince the public with the past methods of 'nuclear umbrella' and 'extended deterrence' where the U.S. provides protection, and stated, "For effective extended deterrence, we are discussing the concept of joint planning and joint exercises on nuclear matters with the U.S., and the U.S. is quite positive about it," adding, "The nuclear weapons belong to the U.S., but planning, information sharing, exercises, and training must be conducted jointly by South Korea and the U.S."

Regarding the possibility of a South-North summit, he questioned, "There is no reason to refuse a meeting, but would a showy meeting really help peace on the Korean Peninsula?" He described North Korea's drone airspace incursions as "a kind of 'soft terror' aimed more at disturbing public sentiment and disrupting our national system operations than having military value."

On the normalization of South Korea-Japan relations, he said, "If the issue of forced labor, especially the cash settlement problem with Japanese companies, is resolved, I think the normalization of South Korea-Japan relations in various fields can be initiated through mutual visits of the two countries' leaders."

Regarding South Korea-China relations, he responded, "Although there are various restrictions due to South Korea-U.S. and North Korea-China relations, South Korea and China can cooperate in all areas such as trade, culture, and global agendas."

Responsibility of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min "Political responsibility should be asked only if there is responsibility" - Negative

Regarding the early-year cabinet reshuffle or presidential office reorganization, President Yoon said, "I think there is no big problem with the current cabinet and aides working together, but I will make a comprehensive judgment."

On the political responsibility theory raised about Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min concerning the Itaewon disaster, he reiterated his existing stance that "political responsibility should be asked only if there is responsibility," emphasizing that the fact-finding process is important.

Regarding cooperation with the opposition party, President Yoon said, "They said if we accept the police bureau budget, they would greatly increase the budget for local gift certificates that the opposition wants, but they kept raising issues until the end. Our thoughts are very different. Dialogue is really difficult," but added, "For now, we will encourage frequent dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties and try to solve problems through communication with the National Assembly Speaker's group."

Regarding the opposition party's claim that the prosecution's investigation of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and former Moon Jae-in government officials is political retaliation, he said, "This investigation is already a story that came out during the Democratic Party presidential primary," and dismissed, "If it were political retaliation, how harshly would the people judge? I cannot understand the claim of political retaliation."

Assuming that the economic situation this year will not be easy, President Yoon revealed that to achieve a soft landing in the real estate market, "We need to quickly ease demand regulations and put a parachute on it," and said, "In the new year, we plan to ease demand regulations such as loans and taxes very rapidly."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the suspension of doorstepping (brief Q&A during arrival), he said, "It is very regrettable because the cooperation system is not well established," and mentioned, "We are researching various ways to strengthen communication in any way."

About the role of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, President Yoon said, "I thought the president's wife wouldn't have any special role, but after inauguration, I realized the spouse has quite a few duties. Many places ask if the president's wife can come when the president cannot," and added, "I told her to do it humbly and well without being exposed."

Regarding criticism that investigations into the president's family are insufficient, he said, "Investigation is not something to mention," but responded, "For several years, they have conducted investigations comprehensively on my wife and her family, even to the extent of excluding my command rights and causing humiliation to catch something."

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