S. Korean leader suspends informal media briefings as infections surge

SEOUL • South Korea's President will suspend the informal media briefings he has been holding nearly every day since taking office in May, his office said yesterday, citing rising numbers of Covid-19 infections as a survey showed a fall in his approval ratings.

The end of the free-wheeling briefings, which broke with years of tradition as President Yoon Suk-yeol sought to step up transparency, also comes amid growing questions over scandals and party turmoil.

Mr Yoon's approval ratings stood at 37 per cent, according to pollster Realmeter's survey, down from over 52 per cent in the first week of June, while 57 per cent now disapproved of his performance.

In its statement, Mr Yoon's office said other coverage of the President would also be limited, with spokesmen switching to mainly written comments, along with photographs and videos of his events, rather than holding in-person briefings.

"In view of the vulnerability to the spread of infectious diseases, we ask for your understanding," the office added.

The health authorities have warned that the country is facing a new wave of infections, with some experts predicting hundreds of thousands of new cases in the coming weeks.

Yesterday's 12,693 new Covid-19 infections took South Korea's tally to 18,524,583, with 18 deaths for a toll of 24,661 since the pandemic began.

After holding down infections and deaths for much of the pandemic with strict tracing, tracking and quarantine measures, South Korea dropped most curbs this year despite a huge wave of Omicron-variant infections.

Scandals have cost Mr Yoon two nominees for a single ministerial position, a first in South Korea's history, and questions relating to ethics have plagued several other picks for top office.

Last Friday, his conservative People Power Party was forced to suspend its leader Lee Jun-seok, 37, over accusations of sexual misconduct in 2013.

REUTERS