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President Lee Jae-myung waits for Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who is on a state visit to South Korea, at Cheong Wa Dae on Sept. 15. / Yonhap

President Lee Jae-myung will hold his seventh press conference on Sept. 18.

Attention is focused on whether Lee, whose approval rating has fallen to a record low amid controversies over ministerial appointments, South Korea’s potential contribution to security in the Strait of Hormuz, real estate policy, a constitutional revision allowing reelection and the controversy over dropping criminal charges, can regain political momentum through direct communication with the public.

Sung Ki-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, announced the plan at a briefing at Chunchugwan on Sept. 15.

“President Lee Jae-myung intends to communicate sincerely and thoroughly on key state affairs that the public is curious about and wants to hear about,” Sung said.

The press conference will begin at 10 a.m. on Sept. 18 at the Yeongbingwan guest house at Cheong Wa Dae. It will run for about 90 minutes and include opening remarks by Lee, a question-and-answer session and closing remarks.

Around 150 domestic and foreign journalists will attend. The event will be divided into two broad areas: politics and foreign affairs, and policy and the economy. Its slogan is “We will listen more closely to the people’s will and their lives.”

“This press conference will be an opportunity to respond to the public sentiment that brought the people-sovereignty government into being by conveying the president’s firm commitment to reform, his policy focus on people’s livelihoods and a message of stronger national unity,” Sung said.

“The president will clearly state and explain his position and direction on major pending issues,” he added.

The press conference is widely seen as an effort to respond to public sentiment ahead of the Chuseok holiday. With public concern and dissatisfaction growing over controversies surrounding appointments, instability in the real estate market and the Hormuz issue, the presidential office appears to have concluded that sentiment could worsen further if Lee did not state his position before the holiday.

Asked whether the press conference was related to Lee’s recent decline in approval ratings, however, a senior presidential official said, “The president and Cheong Wa Dae take the public assessment and sentiment reflected in the approval ratings very seriously and with a strong sense of responsibility.”

“It is always necessary, regardless of timing, for the president to take questions directly from the public and explain the direction of state affairs,” the official said.

The official added that the conference was being held because, 15 months into Lee’s presidency, “this is a time when public interest is growing in how the administration looks back on the past year and three months and what direction it intends to take going forward.”

Experts stressed that Lee’s willingness to speak candidly would be the most important factor at the press conference.

Shin Yul, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Myongji University, said the controversy over dropping criminal charges was the most contentious issue.

“He does not need to speak indirectly. He can simply say clearly that he will not seek reelection and that he will stand trial,” Shin said.

“If he tries to persuade the public on issues such as real estate or ministerial appointments with arguments that are out of touch with public sentiment, it could instead backfire,” he added.

                                                                                                             Hong Sun-mi