Seoul: Revelations from a dubious pollster have plunged President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling camp into a significant quandary, compelling the nation's chief executive to address the issue differently from his past approaches. Breaking his silence on a leaked phone conversation that allegedly involves an "exchange" of party nomination for opinion surveys between President Yoon and self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun, People Power Party chairman Han Dong-hoon has directly urged Yoon to issue an apology and implement a comprehensive overhaul of the presidential office.According to Yonhap News Agency, Han employed some of the strongest language yet, describing Yoon's leadership style as "dogmatic," which has fueled public resentment and reflects a growing sense of crisis within the ruling party. The leaked phone call purportedly reveals a conversation about an alleged exchange of nomination for by-elections in return for unpaid opinion surveys, further intensifying the political scandals affecting the administration. Last week, the president's approval ratings fell below 20 percent. The People Power Party (PPP) has urged the president to uphold principles of fairness and the rule of law, with PPP-affiliated mayors and governors, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, calling for a revamp and improved public communication.Anticipation and trepidation loom ahead of the president's promised news conference on Thursday. Historically, Yoon's press conferences have been lackluster, often focusing on his achievements rather than directly addressing controversies. Past issues, such as the first lady accepting a luxury bag or allegations of stock manipulation, were often met with half-hearted apologies. The political alarm triggered by Myung's statements and the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) push for a special counsel investigation into the first lady necessitates a clear and decisive response from the president.Han's demands include a request for the first lady to refrain from public activities and the appointm ent of a special inspector to investigate potential corruption involving the presidential family. While Han's demands are moderate compared to the DPK's call for a special counsel investigation into the first lady, opposition efforts in the National Assembly have yet to succeed in passing related bills. The crisis is serious enough to warrant deep reflection, possibly explaining Yoon's absence from delivering a budget speech at the National Assembly, marking the first instance in 11 years a president has not attended.The press conference should provide clear explanations regarding the administration's four major reforms: labor, healthcare, education, and pensions. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has emphasized bipartisan cooperation to implement these reforms successfully and strengthen defense amid North Korea's increased collaboration with Russia. As President Yoon approaches the halfway mark of his five-year term with a large opposition bloc dominating the legislature, the challenges to achieving these refor ms have intensified. The president must convincingly demonstrate his strategy to navigate these turbulent waters.
- October 12, 2026
