Roh: ‘I Will Reach Out to the Public’

President Roh Moo-hyun said he would make more of an effort to reach out to the public next year at a year-end dinner with Cheong Wa Dae correspondents Wednesday. “Watching all those photos of the past year that are displayed on the first floor of the hall, I felt that I have been out of touch with public,” he said.

Roh has been avoiding close contact with public so far, calling it “image politics.” He even complained at a meeting with editorial writers of central media companies on August 31 that “when I make comparisons to explain political situations, those particular comments are often quoted out of context by the media. Why would I go out and meet with them?”

The change in his attitude is viewed as a preparatory move to improve his support rate by increasing contact with public next year, his fourth in office.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com