President Yoon Suk Yeol listens to a reporter's question during a press briefing introducing new Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Chul-ho, right, at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, April 22. Courtesy of presidential office

President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold an official press conference as early as next week to mark his second year in office, sources at the presidential office said, Wednesday.

According to sources, the office is now preparing for the press conference either shortly before or after Friday, which will be the second anniversary of Yoon's inauguration on May 10, 2022.

"The office is planning a press conference on the occasion of the second anniversary," one of the sources said. "Though the date is not fixed, chances are high for Yoon to hold it on May 8 or 9 because May 10 is Friday."

Reportedly, presidential aides are also looking for a venue bigger than the briefing room in the office to accommodate as many journalists — including foreign correspondents — as possible.

During an interview with broadcaster Channel A on Monday, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations Lee Do-woon said "you can assume that there will be a press conference."

The press conference will be the first of its kind since Aug. 17, 2022, when Yoon commemorated his first 100 days in office, except for joint press conferences after summits with foreign leaders.

He replaced a New Year's press conference with an interview with the conservative newspaper, the Chosun Ilbo, in 2023 and engaged in a prerecorded interview with broadcaster KBS instead of this year's New Year press conference.

In the first six months of his presidency, Yoon was proactive in engaging with the press by answering reporters' impromptu questions on his way to the office, but halted this in November 2022 after his aides had quarrels with a reporter asking critical questions at Yoon.

Yoon resumed engaging with the press after the ruling People Power Party (PPP) suffered a crushing defeat in the April 10 general elections.

During a Cabinet meeting speech on April 16, Yoon promised to improve the way he communicates, and asked ministers and government officials to engage better with the public.

He made unscheduled appearances at a press briefing twice on April 22 to introduce his new chief of staff Chung Jin-suk and new senior secretary for political affairs Hong Chul-ho and answered a number of questions as well.