South Korea’s political sphere expressed divided opinions on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s public address delivered Thursday, with the main opposition party criticizing it as a speech “full of excuses” and the ruling party praising it as “honest.” In the televised address and press conference marking the second half of his term, Yoon did not directly mention his wife, but offered an apology amid the public discontent due to the multiple controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee. "I believe the role of the president is not to make excuses.
All of this is due to my own shortcomings and lack of virtue," Yoon said. He stood up and bowed his head as he delivered the apology. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea criticized Yoon's speech through a statement released in the afternoon.
"President Yoon has chosen first lady Kim Keon Hee after letting down the expectations of the people. The 140-minute-long public address with press conference was an apple without its core, as it was full of excuses, pride and self-righteousness," the statement read. On Yoon labeling the bill mandating a special counsel probe into allegations against his wife -- pushed by the main opposition -- an attempt to stir up public anger for political gain, the Democratic Party denounced this rhetoric as Yoon's "betrayal of the people.
" "To protect first lady Kim Keon Hee, President Yoon has rejected the special counsel investigation system. How could someone who has taken on the role of.
