Capture of a Busan Ilbo reporter asking a question at President Yoon Seok-yeol’s press conference 2024.11.7
Let’s turn back the clock to about two weeks ago.
It was the day when President Yoon Seok-yeol bowed his head and apologized, saying, ‘I apologize to the people.’
President Yoon’s statement and question-and-answer session lasted for over two hours, and the president, reporters, and the people watching were exhausted.
[부산일보 기자]
“(…) I think the people watching the press conference on TV will be confused as to what the President actually apologized for. Can you provide additional explanation on this?”[윤석열 대통령]
“I think this. The part that the public misunderstands is that the facts need to be clearly explained, and if there is something wrong, you can point it out and say, ‘Isn’t this part wrong? I will apologize for that (…)”
In summary, it would mean, ‘I have already apologized comprehensively, but it is not right to apologize as if I were explaining each thing in detail.’ At the time, there was a series of criticisms in the political world, not only from the opposition party but also from some parts of the ruling party, that it was difficult to give President Yoon high marks for his apology method.
[조경태/국민의힘 의원]
“In fact, when I apologized, I should have honestly said that I am sorry and sorry to the public in this and that area, but today it felt as if I was pushed by someone to hold a press conference, as if I had issued a statement, as if I did it reluctantly even though I did not want to do the interview. They gave me a lot.” (Last 7th, MBC Radio ‘Kwon Soon-pyo’s News High Kick’)[김재섭/국민의힘 의원]
“In a much more proactive manner, the President should have apologized in a much more proactive and proactive manner regarding the various suspicions raised by the public, such as the suspicions related to Mr. Myung Tae-gyun, the issues related to the first lady, and the relationship with the opposition party. I see it.” (Last 8th, KBS1 Radio ‘Blitz Current Affairs’)
Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho and Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Yoon Jong-gun
The reason I looked back on an incident that has passed nearly two weeks ago was because of the remarks made by Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho, who represented the President’s Office at the National Assembly Steering Committee meeting yesterday.
At President Yoon’s last press conference, the attitude of the Busan Ilbo reporter who asked ‘what specifically he apologized for’ was pointed out as ‘rude’.
[윤종군/더불어민주당 의원]
“Not long ago, the president bowed his head in apology like this. But I’m really curious, so I’m asking this. But when the reporter asked what specifically he was apologizing for, he couldn’t answer. What did you apologize for?”[홍철호/대통령실 정무수석]
“First of all, in the statement, he gave comprehensive remarks about my indiscretion and the hurt feelings caused to the people. He apologized and bowed his head and apologized again in his attitude. Then, through a Q&A with reporters, he said certain things. “I believe that even the specific details contain an apology.”[윤종군/더불어민주당 의원]
“When the reporter asked a question…”[홍철호/대통령실 정무수석]
“That’s a reporter from the Busan Ilbo. I think that’s disrespectful to the president. The president apologized, but he had an attitude like a parent would to a child, saying, ‘I did something wrong.’ I think that attitude needs to be corrected. “I think.”
The president bowed his head and apologized, and even said he would apologize comprehensively, but the attitude of asking probing questions was ‘disrespectful of the president.’ In the ensuing questioning, I was unable to hear any reason as to why the President apologized.
[윤종군/더불어민주당 의원]
“‘Because something went wrong in the meantime, you need to apologize to the people for this point, Mr. President. Since everything else is suspicion, you need to face it confidently.’ The President needs to speak clearly and bow his head to the people, but will the people accept it as an apology if he stands up without knowing what he is apologizing for and bows his head once?[홍철호/대통령실 정무수석]
“I think what our President wanted to say to our people was contained in that discourse and also in his conversations with reporters.”
Question 1: Can you discuss the background and context surrounding President Yoon’s apology press conference, including the criticisms he faced from various political parties and the public perception of his apology method?
Question 2: What do you think could have been done differently by President Yoon during his apology press conference to make it more effective and address the concerns of the public more directly?
Question 3: How do you evaluate the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho’s remarks regarding the Busan Ilbo reporter’s question asking for specifics on what the President apologized for? Do you think this reflects a broader issue in the way the administration handles criticism and media scrutiny?
Question 4: What impact do you believe President Yoon’s apology, or lack thereof, has had on the public trust and his leadership moving forward?
Question 5: As a member of the opposition party, what specific actions or policies would you like to see from President Yoon in order to rebuild public trust and improve his relationship with the people?
