President Lee Jae-myung said on the 16th regarding allegations related to the debt and assets of Prime Minister candidate Kim Min-seok, "I asked (the candidate) how it happened, and he said it is just an allegation that he can fully explain." President Lee made this remark while meeting with reporters on the private jet heading to Canada for the G7 (Group of Seven) summit, when asked about related questions, stating, "I believe the candidate can explain sufficiently at the hearing."
Regarding the controversy over real estate associated with Lee Han-joo, a close aide dubbed the 'Seongnam Line' and Chairperson of the National Planning Commission, he said, "The chairperson is not a public official, but rather a sort of volunteer." He added, "However, since it also does not lack the nature of a public office, I think it is unavoidable to verify it. He also said he can explain sufficiently, so I will listen to his explanation as well."
President Lee said regarding reports that he met with the three special prosecutors appointed for the so-called 'three major (insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, and the deceased Marine) special investigation laws,' "I have never seen the faces of the three special prosecutors." However, he mentioned that he had previously met Jo Eun-seok, the former Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, who is in charge of the 'insurrection special investigation,' while he was the mayor of Seongnam, and stated, "Since then, I haven't seen them at all. They are people with whom I have no special ties."
President Lee said, "I do not personally have any special information regarding personnel matters," and added, "I try to listen to as many opinions from those around me as possible, aiming to select a person who is neutral and capable, suitable for the position, rather than doing it quickly. I will also listen to as many opinions as possible regarding the recommendations for special prosecutors and strive to select a person that fits the purpose of the special investigation." He continued, "I do not intend to emphasize personal connections particularly, nor do I think it should be that way."
He also responded to questions about approval ratings. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter on 2,507 men and women aged 18 and older nationwide at the request of Energy Economic Newspaper from the 9th to the 13th, 58.6% of respondents positively evaluated President Lee's performance during his first week in office. When asked whether he was satisfied with this figure and what he predicts the approval rating will be towards the end of his term, he stated, "That's a difficult question," adding, "But I think my approval rating has always been higher when I finish than when I start my public office."
President Lee noted, "When I started as the governor of Gyeonggi, I was last in the nation, but by the time I finished, I was at the top," and added, "I barely won when I was mayor of Seongnam, but at the end, the satisfaction with my administration was around 80%." He stated, "I will do my best to ensure that it is not the president's appearance or image but the lives of our people that are actually improved, and that Korea can regard itself as having upgraded to another level." He also mentioned, "Setting a target for (approval rating at the end of the term) is meaningless, but I have the expectation that it would be higher at the end than at the start, and I intend to do my best."