Lee set for press conference amid falling approval ratings

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SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a press conference Friday to address pending issues in an apparent attempt to resuscitate his approval ratings that have fallen to their lowest level amid controversies surrounding government policies.

The press conference, to be held under the slogan of "people's wishes and lives will be more closely heeded," is scheduled to run for 90 minutes from 10:30 a.m.

It will mark the seventh press conference by the president since he took office in June 2025 but a rare one, given that most of his previous pressers were held in and around special occasions, such as the first year anniversary of his administration.

The event, announced three days earlier, comes after Lee saw his approval ratings decline to the lowest levels in the mid-30 percent range in recent weeks, especially among young voters.

During the conference, Lee is expected to face media questions about his and his ruling party's push for a constitutional revision, as well as issues involving his suspended trials.

The president and the ruling Democratic Party have been calling for a constitutional revision that would mandate a shift to a four-year, two-term presidential system from the current single five-year term system.

Opposition party lawmakers are pushing back, raising suspicions that the president may be seeking reelection through a constitutional revision, although the Constitution stipulates that any changes to the presidential system shall not apply to the president in office at the time of a revision.

The conference also comes amid growing calls for Lee to explain himself over suspicions that he is trying to have his indictments canceled through prosecution reform and other related moves after a number of trials he was facing were suspended following his taking office.

Other issues expected to figure prominently include whether to deploy military forces to the Strait of Hormuz amid growing U.S. pressure and a controversy over Lee's ministerial nominations, with his pick for gender equality minister, Rep. Yong Hye-in, having given up her nomination amid mounting questions over her qualifications.

President Lee Jae Myung attends a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae, marking the first anniversary of his taking office, in this file photo from June 8, 2026. (Yonhap)

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Lee set for press conference amid falling approval ratings

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首尔，9月18日（韩联社）——由于政府政策引发争议，李在明总统的支持率已跌至历史最低点，他计划于周五召开新闻发布会，就悬而未决的问题发表讲话，显然是为了挽救其支持率。

此次新闻发布会以“更加重视人民的意愿和生命”为主题，计划从上午10:30开始，持续90分钟。

这将是总统自 2025 年 6 月上任以来举行的第七次新闻发布会，但这次却很罕见，因为他之前的大多数新闻发布会都是在特殊场合或前后举行的，例如他的执政一周年纪念日。

此次活动于三天前宣布，此前李的支持率在最近几周跌至30%左右的最低水平，尤其是在年轻选民中。

在会议期间，李显龙预计将面临媒体关于他及其执政党推动修宪以及他被暂停审判等问题的提问。

总统和执政的民主党一直呼吁修改宪法，将总统任期从目前的五年一届制改为四年两届制。

反对党议员们正在反击，这引发了人们的怀疑，即总统可能正试图通过修改宪法来寻求连任，尽管宪法规定，对总统制的任何修改都不得适用于修改时在任的总统。

此次会议召开之际，外界越来越强烈地要求李显龙就其涉嫌试图通过检控改革和其他相关举措取消对其的起诉一事作出解释。此前，在他上任后，他面临的多项审判被暂停。

预计其他重点议题包括：在美国日益增长的压力下是否向霍尔木兹海峡部署军队；以及李显龙提名的部长人选引发的争议，他提名的性别平等部长、国会议员杨惠仁，由于对其资格的质疑越来越多，已经放弃了提名。

这张摄于2026年6月8日的资料照片显示，李在明总统在青瓦台出席就职一周年记者招待会。（韩联社）

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