Time for self-reflection and looking back

In a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo recommended President Yoon Suk Yeol reject three bills proposed by the opposition Democratic Party (DP) – including two special proposals to investigate the suspicious death of a Marine last year and First Lady Kim’s alleged corruption Keon Hee and a bill that aimed to give people universal cash relief. If the President vetoes the three bills this time, it will be the 24th since he took office in 2022. We hope that the futile cycle of filing controversial bills followed by presidential vetoes ends soon.

The previous special motion for first lady gave the DP the exclusive right to recommend candidates for special prosecutor and ordered that if the president does not select one of them within three days, the most senior candidate will automatically be appointed special prosecutor. The motion raised the possibility that a special investigation could be exploited for political purposes.

But it is too late for the government to turn the tide. The government failed to gain public trust in its prevention efforts, early response, criminal investigations and follow-up actions. If the First Lady had truly fallen into the trap of accepting a luxury handbag from a suspicious pastor, the presidential office should have told the truth from the start instead of maintaining silence. Prosecutors’ half-hearted investigation into the first lady — and prompt decision not to charge her with bribery — only fueled public antipathy toward her.

The presidential office promised to set up an office to handle matters related to the first lady, but took no action. The president promised to appoint a special inspector if the National Assembly recommends one, but no progress has been made. The First Lady’s resumption of public activities under such circumstances further worsened public sentiment against her and the President. Further suspicion has also arisen over the First Lady’s alleged intervention in the nomination of People Power Party members ahead of the April 11 general election. According to a recent poll, 65 percent want the first lady to be investigated by a special prosecutor. Even in Daegu and North Gyeongsang, home to the conservatives, 58 percent supported a special investigation against them.

The president’s approval ratings fell to 25.8 percent in a recent survey. Opposition parties are joining forces to impeach the president in the wake of the first lady’s alleged corruption. Opposition MPs began attending outdoor rallies led by progressive groups and even allowed them to hold rallies inside the legislature.

The President’s Office must take serious steps to calm the hostile public sentiment toward the First Lady beyond legal limits. Above all, the presidential couple must show their sincere hindsight. Otherwise, the president cannot effectively govern the country.