"Address the Dismissal of Charges" vs. "Focus on Livelihood over Approval Ratings"... Advice Floods In Ahead of Lee's Press Conference

Time to Address Concerns Over Dismissal of Charges, Second Term
Kim Chong-in: "Judging by Approval Ratings, Success Is Unlikely... Clear Policy Direction Needed"

Regarding President Lee Jae-myung's scheduled press conference on the 18th to address current issues, members of the ruling party have advised that now is the time to fully address and 'clear the air' on matters such as the dismissal of charges and constitutional amendment. However, some have pointed out that rather than focusing on political controversies, the real challenge is finding solutions to pressing public livelihood issues.

On September 16, Assemblyman Park Ji-won of the Democratic Party of Korea stated on YTN Radio's 'Jang Sung-Chul's News Myeongdang,' "There are many suspicions among the public concerning the issues of constitutional amendment and dismissal of charges, so I think it would be good for the President to address them head-on." Park emphasized that President Lee should directly respond at the press conference to concerns raised mainly by the opposition. He added, "Since so many citizens are skeptical about these matters right now, I believe the President should act with humility and honesty to resolve them through open discussion."

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House on the 11th. September 11, 2026 [Photo by Blue House Press Photographers Group] Yonhap News

Kim Jun-hyung, floor leader of the National Innovation Party, also commented on the same issues during KBS Radio's 'Jeonggyeoksisa,' saying that mention of the dismissal of charges and concerns over a potential second term "should be included in the press conference."

Earlier, on September 14, Assemblyman Yoon Kun-young of the Democratic Party wrote on social media, "Everything needs to be clearly resolved without leaving any residue," adding, "This is especially true for issues such as the dismissal of charges and constitutional amendments, which have undermined trust in state governance." He continued, "The root cause of the recent deterioration in public sentiment is the collapse of trust," stressing that "issues related to this fundamental problem must be addressed thoroughly, ​to the point that no one could say 'it went too far.'" He explained, "Only by doing so can even a fraction of the lost public confidence be regained. If the administration’s policies are at fault, the government can seek understanding and renew itself through policy changes. But if the collapse of trust is the root issue, it will be difficult to restore the very foundation needed for a new start."

By contrast, Kim Chong-in, former emergency committee head of the People Power Party, expressed the view on CBS Radio's 'Park Sung-tae’s News Show' that President Lee should instead present solutions to livelihood issues. Kim commented, "A cold-headed assessment is needed regarding the sharp drop in approval ratings. Is President Lee neglecting his base in any way?" He argued, "If the Democratic Party focuses only on solving the issues raised internally in accordance with its own opinions, misjudging the reason for declining public support, it will never succeed. As a self-declared progressive government, policy measures appropriate to that stance must be presented."

Kim went on to say, "For example, if the direction is supposed to be progressive, then the highest elderly poverty rate and deepening polarization need to be addressed, but no solutions have been proposed." He emphasized that the outcomes of economic growth must lead to real improvements in people's daily lives. Regarding the constitutional amendment, he insisted saying, "Even for constitutional revision, the government must clarify whether or not they plan to amend the constitution. The reasons for pursuing constitutional changes should be fully explained to the people, and making ambiguous statements must be strictly avoided."

Assemblyman Park also stressed the importance of livelihood issues over political controversies. He said, "Isn’t the biggest problem the working-class economy and the housing issue for people in their 20s and 30s? I'd like to see deeper communication and proposals for effective solutions to these challenges." On the recent decline in President Lee's approval ratings, Park stated, "Rather than focusing on approval ratings, the more important task is to pursue the right statecraft that the people desire and to maintain steady progress. I hope this press conference provides clear direction by identifying what the public expects and what the critical state challenges are, and by addressing them appropriately."

Meanwhile, Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party, addressed the Supreme Council meeting held in Daejeon on the same day, stating, "Ahead of the press conference, there have been unfounded rumors and some articles based on speculation that Democratic Party leadership has conveyed specific agenda items to the Blue House. However, no such content has been communicated regarding the President’s press conference." Han made it clear that at the leadership level, the Democratic Party neither has delivered nor intends to deliver any opinions about the upcoming press conference. He added, "The Democratic Party truly hopes that the President’s press conference will serve as a platform for national communication and unity."

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