Lee set for press conference amid falling approval ratings

President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday to tackle lingering issues, as his approval ratings have plummeted to their lowest levels. The event, dubbed "people's wishes and lives will be more closely heeded," will span 90 minutes and is set to commence at 10:30 a.m. It marks the seventh press conference for the president since his June 2025 inauguration, though it is somewhat unusual given that most of his previous pressers were linked to significant milestones.

The announcement of the press conference was made three days prior, following a decline in Lee's approval ratings to the mid-30 percent range, particularly among younger voters. During the conference, Lee is anticipated to field media inquiries on several pressing matters. These include the ruling party's bid for a constitutional revision aimed at transitioning to a four-year, two-term presidential system from the current single five-year term.

This proposal has been met with opposition, with critics alleging that the president may be attempting to secure a second term through such a revision, despite constitutional stipulations that revisions do not apply retroactively to the incumbent president.

Other topics likely to be broached at the press conference encompass Lee's plans to potentially deploy military forces to the Strait of Hormuz due to mounting U.S. pressure, as well as a controversy surrounding his ministerial appointments. Notably, Lee's nominee for gender equality minister, Rep. Yong Hye-in, withdrew her nomination due to concerns over her qualifications, adding to the complexities surrounding the president's administration.