President Lee Jae-myung will hold a New Year's press conference at the Blue House state guesthouse on the morning of the 21st to outline his policy vision for the year. It is the third press conference of his term, following briefings one month and 100 days after taking office.
The briefing, under the theme "A great transition achieved together, a great leap enjoyed by all," is expected to run about 90 minutes. About 160 domestic and foreign reporters will attend.
Marking the second year in office, the president is expected to deliver a message that, through a major shift in state affairs, he will reap the fruits of growth. He is expected to reaffirm the government's foreign and security policies and stress national unity for the national interest amid a grave international situation.
In particular, through a Q&A, the president is expected to share views on a range of contentious issues. With the confirmation hearing for Minister of Planning and Budget nominee Lee Hye-hoon derailed, questions are likely to arise about the president's position.
Other likely topics include People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok's hunger strike accepting the "dual special counsel" on the Unification Church and nomination donation allegations, follow-up legislation on prosecutorial reform such as the supplemental investigation authority issue, the surge in real estate and exchange rates, and the United States' semiconductor tariff pressure.
On North Korea, attention is on what stance will be taken regarding the North's claim of "a South Korea-launched drone incursion." There is also speculation that concrete methods for the "preemptive restoration of the Sept. 19 military agreement," as outlined in last year's Liberation Day address, could be discussed.