Yoon vows to bring domestic policies in line with global standards

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) — President Yoon Suk Yeol said Friday he will communicate more with the public and ensure domestic policies are in line with global standards to pursue key programs for the remainder of his term.

Yoon made the remark during a dinner with reporters on the lawn of the president’s office in Seoul.

“Our government strives to become a key country on a global scale. We are making efforts to bring our internal policies in line with global standards,” Yoon told reporters, without going into details.

“Because our economy relies heavily on exports, we strive to expand cooperation with trading partners and countries that share values ​​and interests. The well-being of our citizens and the future of our country depend on it,” he added.

At a rare dinner featuring barbecue and his signature menu of kimchi soup and egg rolls, Yoon pledged to make efforts to actively communicate with the public and the press during his remaining three years in office, marking a marked shift in his style.

It was released two weeks after Yoon held a live press conference to mark the second anniversary of his presidency, the first since August 2022.

Yoon is in his third year in office amid mixed reviews of his foreign and domestic policies but a clear need to regain public support after a resounding defeat in April’s general election, seen as a mid-term referendum on him.

After the crushing defeat, Yoon admitted there was a need to reset his management of state affairs and promised closer communication with opposition parties, meeting Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung for the first time since taking office in May 2022.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of Yoon’s consistently low ratings, including: due to negative assessments of his economic policy and lack of communication.

A survey of 1,001 adults conducted by polling agency Realmeter on May 21–23 showed Yoon’s approval rating at 24 percent, remaining in the 20 percent range for over a month.

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