President Yoon likely to address nation in pre-taped interview amidst first lady controversy

President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to discuss sensitive issues, including the Christian Dior handbag received by the first lady. He has also ceased answering questions during door-stepping session since 2022.

President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a public debate on medial service reform held at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on Thursday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to address the public, including the controversy surrounding the first lady, in a pre-taped video scheduled two days before the Lunar New Year holidays.

According to a JoongAng Ilbo report, a high-ranking official familiar with the matter said the public address will likely take the form of an interview with the public broadcasting station KBS.

During the interview, President Yoon is expected to discuss various policies planned for the year and address sensitive issues, including the Christian Dior handbag received by the first lady and the recent tensions with People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon.

Tensions between Yoon and Han, who has worked together as prosecutors for quarter of a century, flared when a member of Han's emergency steering committee compared the first lady to the French queen Marie Antoinette.

In Sept. 2022, the first lady, Kim, met with Korean-American pastor Choi Jae-young, accused of being a North Korea sympathizer.

During the meeting, Choi presented the first lady with a Christian Dior handbag, allegedly purchased by a liberal YouTuber.

The entire incident was recorded with a camera hidden on Choi's wristwatch, provided by the YouTubers.

The president's office claims a conspiracy against the first lady orchestrated by Choi and the YouTubers.

Despite the reconciliation between the president and the party's interim leader, public sentiment, as indicated by polls, still calls for an explanation from either the president or the government.

President Yoon has not held an official press conference since August 17, 2022, which marked his 100th day in office.

Additionally, although the president at the start of his term responded to reporters' questions regularly during door-stepping sessions, he abruptly ceased this practice in November 2022, following a conflict with broadcaster MBC.

Tensions escalated when MBC reported a hot mic moment during a conference in New York in September that year, where President Yoon was alleged to have used expletives while referring to U.S. President Joe Biden.

The president's office accused MBC of misinformation, arguing that the broadcaster had misquoted the president's words.

Last month, the Seoul Western District Court ordered the broadcaster to issue a correction, citing that even court-appointed sound experts were unable to accurately confirm the verbiage that MBC had reported President Yoon as saying.

President Yoon, despite having interviews with foreign press before overseas visits, has not conducted an exclusive interview with local media.

An official in the president's office suggests that a one-on-one interview with KBS is more likely, as it would provide a better platform for effective communication compared to a press conference.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]