May 10, 2017 Inauguration of 19th President of Korea
"I do solemnly swear before the people that I will faithfully execute the Office of President."
"Inauguration day was quite an emotional day for the entire campaign.
The Moon Jae-in camp had worked so hard throughout the campaign.
We were both moved and relieved that he became the president."
I promise to stay close to the people.
I will remain a warm and friendly president.
CG Gwanghwamun Square
Seoul
"He was ushered into office with incredible pressure to unify a nation torn by corruption...
people scarred with feelings of betrayal... backed by millions of Koreans who spent last
winter out in the streets here in downtown Seoul with candlelights in their hands crying
for change.
One hundred days ago, Mr. Moon Jae-in made his grand entrance into the presidential Blue
House...
with one promise: to be a people's president."
"His presidency began right away.
The president did not have the luxury of a transition team.
He was sworn in just hours after the election results were announced so, the team, including
the president himself, couldn't afford any break time for a break after the hectic presidential
race."
"President Moon became president without a presidential transition team.
So, he got to enjoy the position of a president-elect as well as the president.
That means he got both sides of the coin - extra high approval rating and an extremely busy
schedule."
July 19, 2017 Moon's policy blueprint unveiled
"President Moon and his team did have a lot prepared in terms of quantity but as for the
quality of those policy plans... that's a bit questionable.
We've seen a number of premature policies.
His policies on nuclear power plants and more welfare... the so-called 'Moon Jae-in care'...
they are all quite incomplete and premature in terms of contents.
"So, they did bring out the tax hike card.
The Moon administration's new tax code raises taxes on the super rich, multinational corporations
and large conglomerates.
Their argument is that the extra tax revenue collected from these economic brackets is
enough to cover the costs of its welfare policies.
We'll have to wait and see whether the tax hike will end up affecting the average Koreans."
"This administration faces challenges like no other previous ones because as soon as
it took off, it found itself swirled in a security crisis."
"Moon Jae-in came in with different ideas especially in inter-Korean relationship.
He has his own philosophy.
He's had no room to implement anything.
This Kim Jong-un, Donald Trump battle has sucked all the oxygen out.
So, it's been very difficult for President Moon to take any of the steps he wants to
take.
THAAD predates Moon is the point.
THAAD was a problem.
Certain American perception of mixed messaging from South Korea on THAAD goes back to the
Park Geun-hye administration.
Moon inherited that problem.
It is another dilemma.
CG Presidential Archives
Sejong
"One hundred days ago, Mr. Moon Jae-in came into office with a landslide victory and now
100 days into his presidency, President Moon already has a plethora of pending issues piled
before him.
But, most of all, one of the president's key focus so far has been on how to better to
communicate with the people.
And, among the first on his agenda as president was to stand right here before Blue House
press corps to reaffirm that he will create a society that offers equal opportunity, fair
process, and just outcome."
May 10, 2017 President Moon's first press conference
Do you have any questions?
Will you be taking questions yourself, Mr. President?
Yes.
June 28, 2017 Surprise press conference, Air Force One
It throws us off guard, too.
When he makes an unplanned stop to speak to the reporters even in a shaking airplane,
or reaches out to the people on the road... it leaves us, his aides baffled as well.
"What differentiates the Moon Jae-in administration is that it's quite media friendly.
His chief aides and communications team have been pretty good so far in keeping the channel
open with the media."
"His down-to-earth, humble demeanor really resonated with the Korean public.
I really liked his style, too.
But, reflecting on his first hundred days...
I would say he's kept his ratings up but has multiple factors for uncertainty and instability.
Security concerns the biggest of them all.
"I think we're pretty sure at this point that President Moon Jae-in is reliable and faithful
in character.
Nonetheless, we shouldn't overlook the nature of power in politics.
Power tends to corrupt.
It's something this administration, more than any other, needs to look out for because it
launched with strong emphasis on ethical integrity.