Lee's press conference draws divided reactions…Democratic Party calls it 'sincere', Power Party calls it 'excuse-making'

Political circles are divided over how to grade President Lee Jae-myung's press conference.

According to political circles on the 18th, the Democratic Party of Korea highly praised President Lee's sincere and humble attitude before the people and his willingness to overhaul state affairs, while the People Power Party criticized him for lacking responsible change and offering only excuses and clever rhetoric. The Innovation Party of Cho Kuk and the Reform Party also expressed disappointment and criticism over the lack of concrete solutions and legal issues, respectively.

The Democratic Party actively defended President Lee.

Park Sung-jun, chief spokesman, said right after the conference: "It was an occasion where the President candidly expressed his thoughts on state affairs with a sincere and humble attitude before the people," and added, "We were able to confirm once again President Lee Jae-myung's will for livelihood, reform, and national unity."

He continued, "I agree with the President's remarks that although indicators are improving, we must address the reality that people do not feel this improvement," and pledged that the party would support the government's state management through livelihood legislation, policies, and budgets.

Chairman Kim Min-seok also said, "While watching the conference, I had the same thoughts and same heart as the President throughout," and added, "The party will also listen more humbly and pay attention to people's livelihoods." Floor Leader Han Byung-do similarly evaluated that this press conference would be a turning point in state affairs for recovering public trust.

The People Power Party offered the opposite assessment.

Chairman Jang Dong-hyeok characterized President Lee's press conference as a "declaration of abandoning the people and livelihood." Chairman Jang claimed, "Although wrapped in dazzling language, the people were absent from the President's true heart," and criticized that there was no substantive change in the direction of state management.

Earlier, Chairman Jang also said right after the conference, "The President's thinking hasn't changed at all," describing it as a "press conference with only dazzling rhetoric left behind." Chief Spokesman Park Chung-kwon also criticized, "It is a self-centered hymn of praise that blames others for the administration's failures," and said, "What the President presented before the people is not a promise but an excuse."

The Innovation Party of Cho Kuk acknowledged the significance of the President's reflection while evaluating that concrete solutions were lacking. Spokesperson Lim Myung-hee stated, "The gravity of public sentiment, concerns, and the sincerity of self-reflection were well expressed," but added, "On specific solutions to major issues, it revealed limitations and disappointment in falling short of public expectations."

In particular, they pointed out a temperature difference between the government's assessment and public sentiment regarding prosecutorial reform, and called for additional reforms regarding the nomination of Kim Ji-yong, chief candidate of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency, and the presidential office's civil affairs line. Won Hee-ryong, director of the Innovation Policy Research Institute, also argued that the Democratic Party should demonstrate a more humble attitude to restore state governance momentum.

The Reform Party focused intensively on President Lee's legal issues. Lee Ki-in, chairman of the emergency response committee, criticized the President's request to delete clauses related to the cancellation of prosecution in the so-called manipulation prosecution special counsel bill, calling it "90 minutes of empty talk that did not promise to stand in court."

Chairman Lee argued that what the public expected was a clear stance that after his term, he would stand trial like any other citizen, and said, "They waited for not a long excuse but a single sentence of determination."