Blue House: PM's attendance at President's send-off was official, not political

The Blue House has clarified that Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's presence at President Lee Jae-myung's departure for an overseas trip was a matter of official duty, not a political statement. This explanation comes amid speculation that Kim's attendance, while Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae was absent, signaled political shifts.

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It is not appropriate to interpret the matter politically.

Responding to media inquiries, the Blue House stated that the number of attendees at the airport send-off was intentionally kept small due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and the operational status of the National Election Commission. The Prime Minister's attendance, they explained, was to convey ministerial directives and requests related to the President's extended trip.

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The number of attendees was minimized considering the prolonged Middle East conflict and the operational status of the National Election Commission.

Speculation had arisen linking President Lee's recent sharp criticism of the June 3 local election results to the political dynamics surrounding the send-off. Some suggested the President's dissatisfaction with the current party leadership, potentially including Jeong Cheong-rae, extended to this official event.

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The Prime Minister's attendance was to convey ministerial directives and requests related to the extended trip.

Furthermore, the Blue House addressed President Lee's recent dip in approval ratings, with a poll showing 50.4% positive and 45.7% negative evaluations. They described this as a reflection of complex public sentiment regarding the economy and governance, assuring that the administration would humbly accept the people's will and listen more attentively to their voices. The President's apology on social media was framed as a renewed commitment to this principle.

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The results reflect a complex evaluation of the public's perception of the economy and overall governance.