Ruling and Opposition Parties Split Over President Lee's Press Conference: "Resolve Confirmed" vs. "Step Down from the Presidency"

[Financial News] Amid a decline in approval ratings, President Lee Jae Myung held a press conference on the 18th to break through the impasse. The ruling and opposition parties responded differently. The Democratic Party said, "It will be a turning point in governance that restores public trust," adding, "We confirmed President Lee's firm resolve to restore people's livelihoods, pursue reform and achieve unity." The People Power Party strongly criticized him, saying, "President Lee should now step down from the presidency."
Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, told reporters at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea after President Lee's press conference, "While watching the press conference, I shared the same thoughts and feelings as the president throughout," adding, "Our party will also listen more humbly and pay closer attention to people's livelihoods."
Kim watched President Lee's press conference that day with floor leader Han Byung-do; senior Supreme Council members Jeon Yong-gi and Choi Min-hee; Policy Committee Chair Kwon Chil-seung; Chief Spokesperson Park Seong-jun; and Chief Secretary to the Party Leader Kim Tae-seon.
Han Byung-do said on social media, "President Lee exceeded the scheduled 90 minutes and listened humbly and calmly to the voices of the people," adding, "As the nation's top official responsible for state affairs, he also clearly stated his positions and direction on various issues. We were able to repeatedly confirm the president's firm resolve to restore people's livelihoods, pursue reform and achieve unity."
Han added, "This press conference will be a turning point in governance that restores public trust. President Lee also directly answered several issues that the People Power Party had used as material for political attacks. He stated, 'I have absolutely no intention of serving another term,' and, by requesting the removal of the provision granting the right to withdraw prosecutions from the special counsel bill on fabricated prosecutions, emphasized the principle that the focus should remain solely on uncovering the truth behind fabricated prosecutions."
At the National Assembly Communication Hall that day, Chief Spokesperson Park Seong-jun said, "It was an occasion for the president to candidly share his thoughts on state affairs before the people with an honest and humble attitude. In particular, I agree with his statement that we must improve the reality in which indicators are improving but people do not feel the change."
He added, "We will support the effort through legislation, policies and the budget in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea so that people's actual lives can improve."
The People Power Party unleashed a barrage of criticism against President Lee's press conference that day.
At a press meeting at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk told President Lee, "Do not remain a source of pain for the people any longer; it is now time for you to step down from the presidency." He added, "Today's press conference by President Lee was, in a word, a declaration of abandoning the people and their livelihoods. It confirmed that we can no longer expect any change or unity from President Lee."
Jang characterized President Lee's press conference, saying, "It was wrapped in dazzling words, but the president's true intentions did not include the people," and, "It was a declaration that he would go his own way hand in hand with leftists, regardless of what the people say."
He went on, "All he has to do is declare that he will not seek another term. Why does he leave those simple words unsaid and play the world's most aggrieved victim? He says he has no intention of serving another term, but won't he eventually invoke a decision by the people? He has not yet given up his dream of serving another term."
Regarding President Lee's request to delete the provision on withdrawing prosecutions from the special counsel bill on fabricated prosecutions, Jang said, "Whether the provision is included or not, a prosecution can be withdrawn at any time if one simply decides to do so. He is saying he will remove one provision as though he were granting a favor."
Jang also took issue with President Lee's remark, directed at Cho Hee-dae, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea, that people should consider why national institutions are granted independence. Jang said, "President Lee himself is the person who trampled on judicial independence while talking about elected power and appointing power. I return those very words to President Lee."
Jang also criticized all of President Lee's remarks on real estate policy and the introduction of single-stock leveraged ETFs, among other issues, and signaled a stronger campaign against the ruling party.   
[email protected] Kim Hyung-gu Reporter