South Korea: A review of President Lee Jae-myung's first month in office
"The days of anxiety and impatience due to a president who can't do his job, a problematic first lady, martial law and impeachment are over. I feel stable now," says a person on the street in Seoul.
For another, "As stock prices recover, I'm now interested in investing."
The opinions reflect some common thoughts from people in South Korea following President Lee Jae-myung's June 4 inauguration. In a poll conducted one week after he took office, 70 percent of respondents believed he would perform his duties properly during his five-year term. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung held his first cabinet meeting on June 13.
Expectations also appear high in the business world. KOSPI, the country's major stock index, rose 14 percent in the one month since Lee took charge.
His predecessor Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office in April following his impeachment over a botched attempt to impose martial law. Key focus
"I have worked fiercely for the past 30 days, bearing in mind the aspirations of our citizens who have endured the waves of a national crisis," said Lee at his first press conference on July 3. Lee held his first press conference on July 3.
Lee's focus appears to be on everyday South Koreans. On his first day in the top job, he met with ministers and high-ranking officials to discuss a plan to improve people's lives. His cabinet passed a bill on a supplementary budget that includes a consumption coupon program worth at least 150,000 won (about $110) per person.
Lee, who is a member of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, is also looking to promote political unity and inclusion. He has already met with key figures from the opposition parties more than once ― a notable change from the way his predecessor managed government affairs.
During his term, Yoon took about two years to meet then-opposition leader Lee. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met with key figures from the opposition parties on June 4.
Lee is also reaching across the aisle in his nomination of ministers. Veterans Minister nominee Kwon Oh-eul is a former member of the conservative party that is now recast as the opposition People Power Party.
Lee decided to keep Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung, who was originally appointed by Yoon, in the post.
In South Korea, a transition committee is usually set up after the presidential election and before the start of the new administration. That period lasts a few months while the committee discusses policies and personnel.
But with Lee assuming the presidency the day after the election, it is apparent that he and his staff devoted considerable time to preparation. So-called 'judicial risks'?
Going into the election, Lee was navigating what some news outlets have described as 'judicial risks'. But they appear to no longer be an issue, at least for now.
He faces several charges including violation of election law and breach of trust, but courts have postponed the dates of some of the trials, citing Article 84 of the Constitution. That states the president is not subject to criminal prosecution while in office, except on insurrection and treason charges. Local pundits believe all of the court proceedings will come to a halt. The Seoul Central District Court Challenges ahead
Still, there are many challenges ahead. One of them is "naeronambul", a Korean word for double standards. It is an abbreviation of a Korean phrase meaning "If I do it, it's a romance. If you do it, it's adultery."
It was a buzzword during the presidency of Moon Jae-in, who served between 2017 and 2022 and belonged to the same party as Lee. During that time the administration was widely criticized for being too lenient on Moon's inner circle.
The Lee administration is showing similar signs. Kim Min-seok, one of Lee's closest aides, has been appointed as the country's prime minister, the second-highest post in the administration.
But allegations of financial impropriety have been made against Kim. At a parliamentary hearing about his appointment, the opposition parties painted him as an inappropriate choice.
From a "naeronambul" perspective, it is worth considering that in 2022, during a hearing into the appointment of Han Duck-soo, who served as prime minister in the Yoon administration, Democratic Party politicians demanded that Han's side submit more than 1,000 documents relating to his property holdings and called for a thorough investigation. Diplomacy reinstated
Regarding relationships with other countries, Lee is playing catch-up in more ways than one. Diplomacy has largely been put on pause for most of this year due to South Korea's political turmoil. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, fifth from right, second row, at the G7 Summit in Canada
Lee's first major trip came less than two weeks after taking office. He was invited to the G7 Summit in Canada, where he met with international leaders including Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. Many diplomatic experts in South Korea say that diplomacy has been completely restored, as reported in the media and other public forums.
It remains unclear exactly what kind of diplomatic approach Lee will pursue. During his speech on day one of office, he called for practical diplomacy centered on national interests. One diplomatic expert said that he was just stating the obvious. The expert has a point: Which leader doesn't consider national interests in their approach to diplomacy? Tokyo-Seoul relations Lee met Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on the sidelines of the G7 summit on June 17. They agreed to further develop bilateral ties.
Many Japanese remember that Lee once described Japan as an enemy nation. That statement leaves a question mark over how he will deal with historical issues that have affected bilateral relations for decades.
Lee has prioritized relations with the United States, a South Korean ally, but he needs to work with Japan to deal with urgent regional issues, including tariffs. Seoul chairs APEC
South Korea will chair the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit this year. Lee hopes to welcome the leaders of the two superpowers, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The summit, which will attract global attention from around the world, will put all eyes on South Korea and Lee's ability to steer his country in a safe and secure fashion.
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Japan Times
2 hours ago
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NHK
6 hours ago
- NHK
S.Korean media: Yoon may have tried to provoke N.Korean military response
South Korea's special prosecution team investigating former President Yoon Suk-yeol's imposition of martial law last year says an investigation into military personnel on suspicion of aiding foreign aggression is proceeding. Local media have reported that Yoon may have ordered a drone incursion into North Korea to try to provoke a military response as a way to justify the imposition of martial law. A member of the special prosecution team spoke to reporters on Friday but did not give details of the investigation. Yonhap News Agency and other South Korean media have reported that Yoon may have ordered a drone incursion into North Korea in October to provoke a military response. The reports say the special prosecutor has obtained an audio recording of a military officer that suggests Yoon gave the order to a commander. In October, North Korea said it had found debris in Pyongyang of a drone of the same type as used by the South's military. It condemned Seoul for using drones to scatter propaganda leaflets. South Korea's military said it could not confirm the claims were true.
