Press Conference Begins with "Apologies to the Public": "Will Listen" vs. "Only Blamed Others"

[Anchor]

Today's (September 18) presidential press conference began with the words, "I apologize to the public." The atmosphere remained somber and subdued throughout the 100-minute session. The Democratic Party stated that "the party will also listen to public sentiment," while the People Power Party criticized it, saying he "only blamed others."

Reporter Kim Bo-mi reports.

[Reporter]

Speaking in a subdued voice, President Lee Jae-myung opened the press conference with these opening remarks.

[President Lee Jae-myung: "I greet the people who are living through difficult daily lives with an apologetic heart."]

He said that following the June 3 local elections, he had been taken aback by the public's disappointment and concern, but after spending much time reflecting, this was the conclusion he reached.

[President Lee Jae-myung: "The conclusion of my reflection is always that 'the people are right.' It is all due to my own shortcomings."]

In his previous six press conferences since taking office, question-and-answer sessions followed an opening statement of about 10 minutes, often stretching well over two hours. Today, however, the opening statement emphasizing "shortcomings" and "a humble posture" lasted 20 minutes—longer than before—while the overall press conference was somewhat shorter at one hour and 40 minutes.

President Lee continued to answer questions with a somber and calm expression, with jokes and laughter noticeably diminished.

The Democratic Party evaluated the event as "a venue where the president candidly expressed his thoughts with a humble attitude," adding that controversies over a "constitutional amendment for consecutive terms" and "dropping indictments" have been put to rest.

[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leader: "The party will also listen more humbly and look after the people's livelihoods."]

The People Power Party sharpened its criticism, describing it as "a press conference without self-reflection that only blamed others and placated his base," adding that remarks regarding a "consecutive term" and "dropping indictments," forced out by falling approval ratings, cannot be trusted.

[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader: "There is only one answer the people want: that he will stand trial with confidence, that is it."]

Unlike Minister of Justice nominee Kim Seung-won and Minister of National Defense nominee Kang Shin-chul, whose confirmation hearing reports were adopted under the lead of the Democratic Party, discussions on adopting reports for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport nominee Hong Ji-seon and Minister of SMEs and Startups nominee Lee So-young remain suspended because the chairpersons of the competent parliamentary standing committees belong to the People Power Party.

The People Power Party stated that it would formulate its stance depending on whether President Lee pushes ahead with the appointment of nominee Kim Seung-won.

Video by Oh Young-choon, Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan, Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Lee Seung-jin
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.