Lee's Press Conference Draws Mixed Reviews…Democratic Party "Honest," Ruling Party "Excuses"
The political sphere issued divergent "grades" for President Lee Jae-myung's press conference.
According to political circles on the 18th, the Democratic Party highly evaluated President Lee's demonstration of honesty and humility before the people and his will to overhaul state affairs, while the People Power Party criticized the conference as leaving behind only excuses and rhetorical flourishes without any substantive change in responsibility. The Inho Innovation Party and the Reform Party also voiced regrets and criticism regarding the lack of concrete solutions and legal proceedings issues, respectively.
The Democratic Party actively defended President Lee.
Park Sung-joon, Senior Spokesperson, said immediately after the conference, "It was an occasion where the President candidly and humbly disclosed his thoughts on state affairs before the people" and "We were able to reconfirm President Lee Jae-myung's will regarding livelihood, reform, and national unity."
He continued, "I agree with the President's remarks that while economic indicators are improving, people are not feeling it, and we must improve this reality," pledging that the party would support the government's state management through livelihood-related legislation, policies, and budgets.
Party Leader Kim Min-seok also said, "While watching the conference, I was on the same wavelength with the President throughout—same thoughts, same heart," and "The party will also listen more humbly and look after people's livelihoods." Floor Leader Han Byung-do similarly evaluated this conference as a turning point in state governance that would help restore public trust.
The People Power Party issued a completely opposite assessment.
Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk characterized President Lee's conference as a "declaration of abandonment of the people and abandonment of livelihood." Jang stated, "While wrapped in flowery language, the people were not in the President's true heart," criticizing that there was no substantive change in the government's management direction.
Earlier, immediately after the conference, Jang also said, "This President's thinking has not changed at all" and "It was a conference with only flashy rhetoric remaining." Senior Spokesperson Park Chung-kwon similarly criticized, saying, "A self-centered eulogy blaming others for the regime's failures" and "What the President presented to the people was not a promise but an excuse."
The Inho Innovation Party acknowledged the significance of the President's reflection while assessing that specific solutions were lacking. Spokesperson Lim Myung-hee said, "The gravity of public sentiment, concern, and sincerity of reflection came through well," while also noting "shortcomings and limitations in failing to meet public expectations regarding concrete solutions to major issues."
In particular, regarding prosecutorial reform, Lim pointed out a temperature gap between the government's assessment and public sentiment, demanding additional reforms including the appointment of Kim Ji-yong as the Major Crimes Investigation Agency director candidate and the Blue House civil affairs line. Jo Guk, Director of the Innovation Policy Research Institute, also argued that the Democratic Party should demonstrate a more humble attitude to recover state governance momentum.
The Reform Party focused intensively on the President's legal proceedings issues. Extraordinary Measures Committee Chair Lee Ki-in criticized the President's request to delete clauses related to the dismissal of charges in the so-called fabricated indictment special investigation bill, calling it "a rambling 90 minutes in which he failed to promise to stand in court."
Chair Lee argued that what the people expected was a clear position that the President would face trial like any ordinary citizen even after his term ends, stating, "We waited not for a lengthy excuse but a single sentence of resolve."