Lee Faces the Nation Amid Approval Crisis, Holds Press Conference Today... Test of 'Restoring Trust'

Seventh Press Conference Since Inauguration, Unusual in That It Is Not Tied to a Specific Event
90 Minutes of Questions and Answers on Current Issues
A Flood of Questions Expected, Covering Constitutional Revision, Case Dismissals, Personnel, Tr

President Lee Jae-myung will stand before the nation on September 18, facing the steepest decline in approval ratings since taking office. This will be his seventh press conference since inauguration. Unlike previous conferences, which were aligned with scheduled political milestones such as the 100th day in office, New Year, or the first anniversary, this occasion carries a different character. The key observation point for this press conference is whether having the president address pressing issues directly can reduce uncertainty regarding national governance and serve as an opportunity to restore shaken public trust.

President Lee Jae-myung is taking questions from the press at the Blue House Reception Hall during the first anniversary press conference held on June 8, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On this day, President Lee will meet with about 150 domestic and international journalists at the Blue House’s Guesthouse for approximately 90 minutes starting at 10 a.m. The session is divided into two segments: politics/diplomacy and policies/economy, but there are virtually no restrictions on questions. Comments from citizens, submitted in real time, will also be introduced. The Blue House stated, "He will clearly communicate his stance and direction on major issues to the public," adding that the president "intends to communicate honestly and fully." During preparations, President Lee is also reported to have said, "I will listen a lot and respond frankly and candidly."

The main factor lending weight to the press conference is public approval ratings. According to a Korea Gallup survey conducted by telephone interviews with 1,000 adults aged 18 and over nationwide from September 8–10, President Lee’s positive job performance rating was 38%, while his negative rating stood at 51%. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The main reasons cited for negative ratings were real estate policy and personnel matters. In a Realmeter poll conducted from September 7–11, the positive evaluation stood at 33.8%, marking a decline for nine consecutive weeks. (Detailed survey methods and results are available on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.)

Recent declines in approval are widely analyzed as a "compound decrease," with supporters and moderates leaving for different reasons as policy, personnel, and political controversies converge simultaneously. In addition to controversies over real estate policy, stock market volatility, and the August 30 cabinet reshuffle, the issues of re-election-related constitutional amendments and the question of withdrawal of prosecution have also been added. Even within the ruling party, some are publicly diagnosing the recent decline with comments such as "It has reached the stage where trust is being withdrawn" and "Rebuilding the foundation of trust must come first."

Accordingly, journalists’ questions are expected to come from all directions. In the politics and society section, the main issues are likely to be the debate over constitutional amendments for re-election and the withdrawal of prosecution in cases directly involving the president. Although President Lee has previously stated during his visit to France, "My term is clearly limited by the Constitution," more direct follow-up will likely be sought this time. The appointment of Minister of Justice nominee Kim Seungwon, the Blue House’s personnel verification system, prosecution reform and supplementary investigative powers, and the issue of re-nominations for Supreme Court justices are also expected to be critical agenda items.

In diplomacy and national security, questions are expected concerning the deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz and the recent U.S. investment projects. The central points will be what criteria are used to decide on overseas deployments, the scope of review, and how to balance the ROK-U.S. alliance with public safety. As the government has recently moderated the pace of discussions about international deployment, queries may also address trade issues—including investment in the U.S.—and South Korea’s role in resuming dialogue between North Korea and the U.S.

For domestic economy and livelihoods, topics such as housing prices in Seoul, housing supply, real estate taxation, and the volatility in the stock market following the introduction of single-asset leverage exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are expected to be covered. In particular, real estate is likely to draw the most focus, as it was cited as the number one reason for negative evaluations in recent public opinion surveys. Attention will be on whether the president will maintain existing policy directions or consider adjustments reflecting changing market conditions.

Attention after the press conference will focus on whether the 90-minute session can serve as a turning point for reversing the slide in approval. In the past, presidents facing crises in approval ratings have also turned to press conferences as a breakthrough, but the outcomes have varied. For example, following President Lee Myung-bak’s 2008 conference during the beef import controversy, and former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s 2024 press conference, it was not only the content of their statements but also their demeanor and behavior that affected approval ratings.

Again this time, observers stress that more important than mere explanations is how the president interprets recent changes in public sentiment. The political effect of the press conference could hinge on whether President Lee offers sincere responses to the controversies surrounding him and whether he can concretely present areas for improvement within policy and personnel processes.

Assemblyman Yoon Kunyoung of the Democratic Party of Korea said in an interview on MBC Radio’s "Kim Jongbae’s Focus" the previous day, "If the public wants ten things, the president should approach the press conference with the mindset to deliver eleven." He added, "This is necessary to create a momentum for a rebound in approval ratings and to secure renewed momentum for advancing national governance."

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