(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Oct. 16)

Today's by-elections may be small in scale, focusing on local government positions and the Seoul educational office chief, but they carry significant weight. With President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration nearing the halfway mark of its single, five-year term, many view the results as a key indicator of future voter sentiment. This issue is expected to dominate discussions when Yoon meets with the embattled People Power Party (PPP) leader, Han Dong-hoon, in their highly anticipated one-on-one meeting early next week. In the lead-up to the by-elections and his meeting with the president, Han has been ramping up pressure throughout the past week. On Monday, he stated that since first lady Kim Keon Hee does not hold an official position, "there should be no political line supporting her," referring to high-ranking officials loyal to her. While in Busan on Saturday, he called for a "reshuffle within the presidential office to ease public concerns" regarding the first lady. These strong remarks began on Oct. 9, wh en Han suggested that Kim should limit her public activities. Two days later, he added that the prosecution's investigation into allegations of stock manipulation involving Deutsch Motors - also involving the first lady - must reach a conclusion that is acceptable to the public. This isn't the first time Han has addressed sensitive issues involving the first lady. During the April general election, he nearly jeopardized his interim leadership of the PPP when he suggested that Kim Keon Hee's acceptance of a luxury bag should be handled with public sentiment in mind. Since becoming the ruling party's leader, Han has occasionally spoken out on delicate matters but has consistently exercised caution, never fully pushing the limits. This time, Han appears intent on making the first lady's role a central issue in his upcoming one-on-one meeting with the president. The administration is in a precarious position, with increasing calls to address public concerns surrounding the first couple. On Monday, a Realmeter s urvey showed Yoon's approval rating dropping by 2.1 percentage points to 25.8 percent, the lowest in two weeks. The same figure was previously recorded during a survey conducted from Sept. 23-27. Investigations by various agencies, including the prosecution, have examined the luxury bag case and are examining the alleged stock manipulation. Unfortunately, the first lady has become embroiled in a series of political controversies linked to disclosures by former senior presidential official Kim Dae-nam and Myung Tae-kyun, the head of a public opinion polling agency. Kim has pointed out officials in the presidential office linked to the so-called "Kim line," while Myung has claimed to have connections with the presidential couple. It is not in the best interest of the ruling camp for the first lady's name to be linked to various disclosures and political scandals. The ruling party and the administration must collaborate to alleviate the public's discomfort and suspicions once and for all. In this context, the president and Han must work together. However, the pattern of their interactions over the past several months does not inspire confidence. PPP members are now dividing into factions aligned with either the president or Han, each criticizing the other for weakening the party through internal conflict. When the two meet early next week, armed with the by-election results, they must prioritize humility over hubris. On Monday, the presidential office responded to the PPP chief's demand by asserting that there is no "line" associated with the first lady. In light of this, the president must follow through on his promise to establish a second office to oversee the first lady's affairs, which he pledged when he vetoed the special prosecution bill concerning her. At this point, the ongoing cycle of the president dismissing Han's comments raises questions about the ruling bloc's true political mission. Before it's too late, the administration must demonstrate its commitment to the four reforms and pursue balanced di plomacy for the nation's benefit. Many feel that much of the first half of the administration has been consumed by issues like the video of the first lady accepting a luxury bag, the significant defeat in the general election, and a series of controversies. Source: Yonhap News Agency