In February, the price of a single apple in Korea hit$ 7 ( £5.5 ), albeit at a fancy department store. Although fruit is infamously costly below, the amount has already crossed a line for voters who have been grappling with punishing price increases.
President Yoon Suk Yeol visited a food industry in an error effort to address their reservations and gushed about the “reasonably priced” spring garlic ‘ lack of quality. The industry in question was in reality heavily subsidised. Online indignation and scorn unfolded.
The opposition party president yelled,” The leader is going to be brought down by a spring onion.”
However, one of the many reasons why President Yoon’s liberal party lost South Korea’s legislative votes, which were viewed as a vote of confidence on his first two years in office, is the price of meals.
Mr Yoon has always been unhappy. Since receiving the smallest share of the vote in South Korean history, which was 0.7 %, his approval rating has typically been between 30 and 40 %. Next month, half of those surveyed judged him to have done a “very awful” work so far.
” There are many situations that have chipped away at his standing,” said Dr. Lee Sangsin, a political scientist and polling professional. Second, there are a number of political errors that have caused global media coverage, such as when Mr. Yoon was caught swearing on microphone shortly after meeting US President Joe Biden. Koreans who thought Mr. Yoon had damaged their popularity abroad were embarrassed by these situations.
Then there is his family, Second Lady Kim Keon Hee, who, according to Professor Lee, “people like even more than the chairman”.
Additionally, Mr. Yoon’s aggressive social approach has alienated voters. Mr. Yoon, a former prosecutor without any previous political experience, is maybe accused of acting more like a counsel than a politician.
” He gives the impression that he is stubborn, does n’t listen or compromise, and has developed an almost authoritarian manner”, said Dr Lee from the Korea Institute for National Unification.
In summary, President Yoon has failed to appeal to citizens outside of his devoted liberal center. The result is that his party has failed to take control of the legislature, which means it will be challenging for him to pass legislation and address pressing issues like a slowing economy, impossible house prices, and a rapidly aging population.
Before Wednesday, the opposition now controlled the legislature. He now has the only majority-holding presidency in South Korea’s background to be absent for the entire five-year expression. His standing has been seriously weakened, and he runs the risk of becoming what some experts refer to as a “lame duck.”
Friendliness and growing divisions
Mr. Yoon has so far concentrated his efforts on foreign policy despite his unpopularity at home, and despite this, he has managed to make friends internationally. He stepped into power with the intention of wanting South Korea to take a bigger part in the world and was determined to change from what he thought his predecessor’s astigmatism, who by the end of his term had become preoccupied with reconciling with North Korea.
Mr. Yoon defended his position as a proponent of progressive, democratic norms and promised to punish those who disregarded them. Hence, his plan has been to be aggressive with Pyongyang. He has increased military exercises on the island, imposed restrictions on the North, and retaliated whenever Kim Jong Un tries to bait him.
His detractors say he has been excessively controversial. Relations between the two Koreas are at their worst in decades, and the North is launching more arms than ever before.
But his connection with the US has blossomed. Mr. Yoon’s international policy has been focused on strengthening Seoul’s security ties with Washington. It was symbolic of how both places were singing from the same page when he serenaded President Biden with Don McLean’s American Pie. Mr. Yoon has been a source of joy for America as it works to improve its alliances in Asia to counteract China.
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Mr. Yoon gained even more value from the US when he ended longstanding controversies with Japan and established a three-way security partnership between Tokyo, Seoul, and Washington at a major political price. Although the action was not well-liked at home, northern diplomats praised the president for his courage and bravery. As a main weak link in Asia, Japan and South Korea’s lack of security relations had been acknowledged.
However, for bravery has cost. South Korea has historically treaded a fine line between the US and China, properly balancing the demands of its largest trading partner and military allies. ” Strategic misunderstanding” was the title given to this method. But imprecise is not Mr Yoon’s design. He has been critical of China, also warning it over its attitude towards Taiwan, to the fury of Beijing. South Korean officials have never done this earlier. Mr. Yoon’s comments appeared to be aggressive and out of action with some members of his team.
Some in the authorities believe that they have allowed things to go wrong with China, and following the election they need to remedy the harmony, mainly to revive economic ties, according to Dongmin Lee, a professor of political science at Dankook University.
Some people around contend that while promoting liberal democratic principles is noble, it might not be the best course of action for a nation sandwiched between China and Russia, especially as they become more and more close to your adversary. ” North Korea is a component in every decision we make,” according to a source.
The potential White House reshuffle poses the biggest and most unexpected obstacle for Mr. Yoon in the upcoming season. While in office, Mr. Trump courted Kim Jong Un and threatened to oust all of the US’s forces from South Korea. Whichever way Mr Yoon takes, Trump’s re- vote does push him to change course.
However, Mr. Yoon’s state has been accused of political understrength at apartment, despite aligning himself with the west as a proponent of politics.
He has branded his competitors” communists”, attacked the advertising for “fake information” and his company has pursued slander cases against important editors. He has been accused of stoking female groups, vowing to dismantle the president’s gender equality government. He has otherwise vacated the position of gender minister because he was unable to do so without the consent of the political system.
Although it’s common in South Korea, Mr. Yoon has never sought settlement with the opposition’s head. Otherwise, he has resorted to his political filibuster to bomb rules. Since the 1980s, he has used his reject more than any other leader. He has the reputation of someone who does n’t care about getting popular but who will do what he believes, regardless of what others think or say.
Jeongmin Kim said,” It seems as though what Yoon truly cares about is being remembered fondly by his extreme supporters and in the record books as opposed to what the rest of the people, the parliament, or even his own party thinks of him.”
Through his peace with Japan, Yoon Suk Yeol has probably now established himself as a landmark in history. But with his expert dented, he will have less influence worldwide going ahead. At house, his lack of support means South Koreans may expect more political chaos, political enmity and polarisation.