South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday to address key issues and attempt to boost his approval ratings, which have recently fallen to their lowest levels. The conference will cover topics including a proposed constitutional revision and his suspended trials.
President Lee Jae Myung's press conference is a critical event for South Korean politics, as it directly addresses his declining public support and key policy challenges. The outcomes could influence public opinion, the ruling party's legislative agenda, and international relations, particularly concerning regional security and energy supply routes.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday, September 18, 2026, to address pressing national issues and attempt to reverse a decline in his approval ratings. The conference, themed "people's wishes and lives will be more closely heeded," is set to run for 90 minutes starting at 10:30 a.m. This marks the president's seventh press conference since taking office in June 2025, but it is a rare occurrence outside of special occasions.
Recent weeks have seen Lee's approval ratings drop to the mid-30 percent range, with a notable decline among young voters. During the conference, he is expected to face questions regarding his and the ruling Democratic Party's push for a constitutional revision to change the presidential system from a single five-year term to a four-year, two-term structure. Opposition parties have voiced suspicion that this revision could be an attempt by Lee to seek reelection, despite constitutional stipulations that such changes do not apply to the incumbent president.
Additionally, Lee is anticipated to address concerns surrounding his suspended trials and efforts to reform the prosecution. The controversy over his ministerial nominations, including the withdrawal of Rep. Yong Hye-in for gender equality minister due to qualification issues, is also expected to be a prominent topic. The potential deployment of military forces to the Strait of Hormuz amid U.S. pressure is another issue likely to be discussed.