Yoon Suk-yeol's morning barrage from the press is suspended
Since the launch of his administration, Yoon has taken questions from reporters in so-called "doorstepping" sessions nearly every morning on his way into the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul. Campaigning for the presidency, Yoon pledged to be more accessible to the public and press.
"Amid a spread of Covid-19 in the press room," the presidential office said in a statement Monday, "we have decided to temporarily suspend the president's doorstepping sessions."
On Sunday, the presidential office said Yoon's doorstepping sessions would continue but with a limited number of pool reporters, who would share his answers with their colleagues.
But they were suspended entirely Monday and it is unclear when they will resume.
The presidential office promised to give the press more written statements from Yoon and exclusive video footage and photos when possible.
Korea is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases thanks to the BA.5 subvariant. The government will decide whether to institute new set of social distancing measures this week.
The press room is located on the first floor of the Yongsan presidential office, within the Defense Ministry complex. Yoon's office is on the second floor, and one of the selling points of the move from the Blue House to the Yongsan complex was better access to the president for the press.
In the Blue House, the press center was located in a separate building.
There were 11 Covid cases confirmed in the presidential office's press room, according to a presidential official Monday. Some key staff members and their relatives also reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
That is why the presidential security service recommended the suspension of the doorstepping sessions.
"The working space of the Yongsan presidential office is very crowded, and the president's office and the press room are not separated," said a presidential spokesperson.
Yoon has interacted with the press much more than his predecessors. His remarks often made headlines or raised controversy.
Yoon's approval rating has dropped in recent weeks, dropping below 40 percent according to one poll Monday.
Yoon received a positive approval rating of 37 percent according to a Realmeter poll released Monday, while 57 percent of respondents disapproved of the way he was handling state affairs. The poll was conducted on 2,525 voters nationwide conducted from Monday to Friday last week.
This comes amid controversy over failed ministerial appointments, internal turmoil within Yoon's People Power Party and a backlash over the first lady's public activities.
A similar poll released by Gallup Korea last Friday also showed an approval rating of 37 percent, the lowest since Yoon took office on May 10. Such approval ratings are lower than his predecessors at this stage of their administrations.
BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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