[Exclusive] President Yoon to Hold Quarterly Government Briefings... Second Briefing at the End of This Month

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a national briefing on economic issues on the morning of June 3 at the briefing room of the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

President Yoon Suk-yeol will directly explain national issues to the public on a quarterly basis. A presidential office official told Asia Economy on the 6th, "The president will hold sessions every quarter to report on national issues to the public and explain future directions," adding, "In June, President Yoon introduced the first national briefing, directly announcing the potential for oil and gas deposits along the East Coast, and plans to regularize such briefings quarterly going forward."

The second national briefing, scheduled as early as the end of this month, is expected to cover the government's future plans on the four major reforms?education, labor, pensions, and healthcare?as well as low birthrate challenges. Since addressing the four major reforms and the low birthrate issue are top priorities for the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and all are difficult tasks, the president’s intention to seek public understanding and thoroughly explain the government’s commitment to implementation has been actively reflected.

The format is also likely to be a more informal press conference rather than a written statement. At the first national briefing held on June 3 at the Yongsan Presidential Office, President Yoon announced that there is a very high possibility of oil and gas deposits amounting to up to 14 billion barrels in the waters off Yeongil Bay, Pohang, Gyeongbuk Province. Afterward, President Yoon left, and Minister Ahn Deok-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy took questions from reporters. However, since this time the topics will cover a variety of national issues, there is a growing expectation that President Yoon will directly take questions from the press.

A presidential office official said, "Although the format and timing have not yet been finalized, it is highly likely that the president will directly receive and answer questions from reporters during this briefing," adding, "In terms of strengthening communication with the public, we understand that President Yoon is dedicating a lot of time to political planning even during his vacation."

Particularly, attention is focused on whether this briefing can serve as a card to overcome the current difficulties in national governance, as the 22nd National Assembly has seen impeachment motions filed at a rate of one every nine days. Earlier this month, the presidential office strongly criticized the opposition, stating, "While the opposition party is recklessly filing impeachment motions and special investigations for political strife, not a single livelihood bill agreed upon by both ruling and opposition parties has been passed. The opposition’s tyranny is not only hindering the Yoon Suk-yeol government but also holding back the Republic of Korea." A key ruling party official said, "Holding the national briefing is also a way to increase direct communication points with the public, including reporters, and to show the determination to confront the current situation head-on."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.