Still the same old Lee Jae Myung
President Lee Jae Myung’s recent press conference Sept. 18 was a rare opportunity to show whether he had his finger on the pulse of Korean society. Housing costs put the squeeze on daily life, stock-market turmoil has hit individual investors and ministerial nominees have become embroiled in ethical controversies. Many expected him to acknowledge the problems and offer solutions, but what they…
President Lee Jae Myung's recent press conference on September 18 offered a glimpse into whether he was in tune with the concerns of the Korean people. Rising housing costs were placing strain on daily life, while stock market volatility was impacting individual investors. Several ministerial nominees had been embroiled in ethical controversies.
Many anticipated him to address these issues and propose solutions, yet what they witnessed was not a new Lee, but the Lee they were accustomed to. When questioned about his previous statements on jeonse, the Korea's lump-sum deposit rental system, Lee recalled saying "jeonse would disappear," rather than "should disappear." He challenged the reporter to provide evidence of any contrary remarks he had made.
It was striking how, while ordinary Koreans were grappling with jeonse deposits and monthly rents, the president was preoccupied with the precise wording of his earlier statements. The pressing issue at hand remained the question of how he would address the growing housing insecurity plaguing the nation. The atmosphere bore a striking resemblance to previous events.
Following a controversial revision of the Criminal Procedure Act that eliminated prosecutors' supplementary investigative authority, Lee claimed he had not read the revised provisions.
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- Still the same old Lee Jae Myung koreatimes.co.kr
