President Yoon Seok-yeol, who returned home on the night of the 24th after a five-night, seven-day tour of the UK, US, and Canada, faced challenges both inside and outside without a moment to breathe .
It looks like a mountain of urgent matters pending, such as stabilizing the high price and the exchange rate, implementing practical cooperation with the opposition parties, and finalizing the appointment of the cabinet.
President Yoon’s plan to speed up internal affairs based on the results of his trip seems to have lost power as he was caught up in various controversies along with criticism that routine diplomacy with key countries did not meet expectations.
The presidential office did not present a timetable or a special message, except on the 25th, President Yun announced that he had received a report from the National Security Office regarding the launch of a short-range ballistic missile from North Korea.
It is reported that President Yoon stayed at his home in Seocho-dong that day and received reports on domestic affairs during the trip from his staff.
The most pressing issue is the economic situation which is showing signs of a full blown recession as prices, interest rates and exchange rates increase.
As soon as President Yoon returns to domestic work this week, he is expected to take measures to stabilize the people’s livelihood and continue to meet the vulnerable personally.
The announcement of the 450,000 tons of rice market quarantine measures to stabilize rice prices at the high-ranking party council meeting on the 25th, the day after President Yoon returned to Korea, is also read as such.
Concerns about discrimination in subsidies for Korean electric vehicles under the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and currency exchange between Korea and the US are also urgent issues that need to be addressed as soon as possible.
Criticism is mainly raised by the objection that the government’s plan, which was intended to be resolved through the second Korea-US summit on the occasion of the trip, did not meet expectations.
In this regard, attention will be given to the discussion during an interview with US Vice President Kamala Harris, who will visit Korea on the 29th.
The plan to open a dialogue with the opposition and restore relations with the opposition on the occasion of the first regular session of the National Assembly also had dark clouds.
The cooperation of the ‘big opposition’ is essential for next year’s budget review and big bills, but the outlook is not bright.
It was expected that President Yoon would share the results of his trip diplomacy and seek cooperation in the implementation of state affairs by meeting with the leaders of the opposition and opposition parties immediately after the trip.
However, the conflict intensified as the Democratic Party of Korea did not prevent the offensive ‘diplomatic disaster’ due to various controversies during the trip, and launched an offensive ‘office relocation’ attack with the withdrawal of the new hotel.
In relation to President Yoon’s ‘blasphemy debate’ in New York, the presidential office’s late explanation that our National Assembly (opposition), not the US Congress, was the target seems to have added cold water to the cold basin relationship.
The appointment of the first cabinet, which has not been completed five months before the inauguration, must be completed as soon as possible.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education have been vacant since the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister Park Soon-ae.
Amidst this, the results of a public opinion poll that President Yoon’s approval rating for state affairs fell below the 30% line again after a week were released on the 23rd, the day before he returned to Korea.
As a result of a Gallup Korea survey of 1,000 adults nationwide from the 20th to the 22nd, 28% of respondents said President Yoon is doing a good job, and 61% said he is doing it wrong.
It is also analyzed that various controversies relating to the relocation of the office, such as the withdrawal of the plan for the new hotel, and various controversies regarding the diplomacy of the trip could have had an impact.
There is also an interpretation that the idea of the presidential office, which has been focusing on the livelihood of the people before and after Chuseok, and trying to use the trip to three countries as full momentum to increase approval ratings, is putting a brake on it.
/happy news
