President Yoon Suk Yeol bows in apology to the public during an address ahead of a press conference at the presidential office in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized to the public on Thursday for a series of controversies involving first lady Kim Keon Hee.

In a televised press conference, he acknowledged that his wife's carelessness had caused public concern. He stood up and bowed deeply, the first such apology he has made during his term.

The apology has come amid growing allegations, including the presidential couple's interference in the ruling party's candidate selection in a 2022 by-election, their suspicious links to a political broker, Kim's involvement in a stock manipulation case and her acceptance of a luxury bag as a gift.

Yoon, however, showed his clear objection to an opposition-led special counsel investigation bill targeting the first lady, calling it "unconstitutional" and "inappropriate."

Yoon started off the 140-minute press conference with the apology.

"I have caused concern and worry to the public over matters related to those around me," he said. "The role of the president is not one for making excuses; the responsibility is mine, and it stems from my shortcomings. I sincerely apologize and express my deepest regrets."

He called his wife's actions "indiscreet" and vowed to minimize her external activities and roles.

"Taking current public sentiment fully into account, while the first lady's public activities had already been minimized, they will now be fully suspended unless deemed essential by myself and presidential advisers for diplomatic protocol or national interest," Yoon said. He added that her external activities will now be overseen by a newly established office dedicated to her role, which was officially launched earlier in the day.

Although acknowledging that some of the first lady's actions were imprudent, the president defended her, stating that her portrayal had been excessively "demonized" and some of the claims against her are "exaggerated and even fabricated."

The president also said he would appoint a special inspector general — a position responsible for overseeing the misconduct of individuals close to the president, such as family members or those with other special ties to the president — if the National Assembly recommends a candidate for the position.

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks to reporters during a press conference at the presidential office in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

No to special counsel probe into first lady

Despite his apology, the president firmly opposed the proposed bill put forward by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) for a special counsel to investigate allegations involving the first lady, calling it "unconstitutional" and "politically motivated."

As to the allegations that Kim interfered with state affairs, Yoon said, "If they call a first lady's helping of the president and advice for his smooth state management 'interference,' then we'll have to make a new definition of interference in the dictionary."

Regarding the special counsel bill, Yoon also mentioned "double jeopardy" — a legal principle that protects individuals from being tried or punished more than once for the same offense.

"For over two years, hundreds of investigators were assigned during the previous administration, interrogating a large number of people, all in the hopes of implicating my wife and finding charges to prosecute her for. Yet, in the end, they couldn't indict her, could they?" Yoon noted, adding that the opposition's move to investigate her again would no longer be a judicial action, but political propaganda.

President Yoon Suk Yeol sits at the briefing room of the presidential office in Seoul, Thursday, as reporters raise their hands to ask questions. Yonhap

Regarding the election meddling allegations involving Myung Tae-kyun — a self-proclaimed political broker — the president firmly denied the accusations, emphasizing that there is "nothing inappropriate or to hide." The accusations include that the first lady and Myung communicated to interfere with candidate nominations within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) ahead of the 2022 by-elections, as well as the assertion that the first lady sought Myung's assistance to conduct public opinion surveys favoring Yoon ahead of the party primary prior to the 2022 presidential election.

"I have never asked Myung Tae-kyun to conduct a public opinion survey. During the election, I was frequently informed by political figures from our party, including Myung, about survey results that had been released or were about to be announced. I had no reason to manipulate these surveys, and since the results were favorable to me, there was no need to alter them. Even if the results had been unfavorable, I have never resorted to manipulating surveys in my life," the president said.

Concerning his communications with Myung, which was confirmed by a recording of a conversation between the two, the president emphasized that he only expressed minimal gratitude to Myung after being elected, for his role in the early stages of his political career, during which Myung, like hundreds of other political experts, offered some advice.

He added that his wife and Myung "only had routine communication," and after his inauguration, both he and his wife should have changed their phone numbers to allay any suspicions, but he acknowledged that he made a mistake in not doing so.

With regard to the allegations that he exerted influence over party nominations in 2022, he emphasized that he could not have been involved, as all matters related to the nominations fall under the authority of the party's nomination committee.

Lastly, the president pledged a reshuffle within his government to reassure the public of its transformation, vowing to do his utmost until the end of his term in May 2027. His presidential term will reach its halfway point on Nov. 10.

After the press conference, ruling People Power Party floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho said Yoon explained the controversies in a candid way. “With the press conference as momentum, we hope the National Assembly will end the political strife between rival parties and focus on its own duties, taking care of public livelihoods and foreign and security affairs,” he said in a statement.

On the contrary, main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung said, “It doesn't seem people would accept (his explanation about the controversies) without hesitation.”

DPK spokesman Rep. Jo Seoung-lae said, “The 140-minutes address and conference was filled with a vain apology, excuses, irreformable arrogance and self-righteousness.”