{"id":2207076,"date":"2024-11-08T17:03:15","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T08:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2207076"},"modified":"2024-11-11T16:56:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T07:56:00","slug":"yoon-battles-scandal-as-calls-for-probe-on-first-ladys-influence-gain-momentum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/11\/yoon-battles-scandal-as-calls-for-probe-on-first-ladys-influence-gain-momentum\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoon battles scandal as calls for probe on first lady\u2019s influence gain momentum"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol issued a <\/span>rare public apology<\/span><\/a> Thursday in an attempt to quell escalating political scandals involving claims of election interference and alleged influence peddling by first lady Kim Keon-hee.<\/span><\/p>\n The 140-minute press conference was Yoon\u2019s most direct response since the scandal erupted on Oct. 31, when the opposition Democratic Party (DP) <\/span>released recordings<\/span><\/a> suggesting Yoon discussed a political nomination with a power broker \u2014 claims the presidential office initially denied.<\/span><\/p>\n Although Yoon acknowledged his \u201cshortcomings and lack of virtue,\u201d he only indicated that \u201ccommunication protocols\u201d with the first lady hadn\u2019t been properly observed when pressed on specifics. As a result, the press conference appeared to raise more questions than answers, prompting renewed scrutiny of his administration\u2019s conduct.<\/span><\/p>\n As the scandal deepens \u2014 with <\/span>allegations<\/span><\/a> now including opinion poll manipulation and preferential treatment in government appointments \u2014 Yoon\u2019s approval rating has plummeted to a record low of <\/span>17%<\/span><\/a>. With opposition lawmakers pushing for a special investigation, analysts told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> that Yoon\u2019s defensive stance may have worsened the controversy rather than alleviating it.<\/span><\/p>\n