President Yoon Suk Yeol's rare press conference on Thursday was marked by his apology over allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee and his government's botched efforts to improve people's livelihoods. The press conference, his first since August 2022, came as Yoon's image and communication style are in great need of a makeover after the ruling People Power Party suffered a crushing defeat in the April 10 parliamentary elections. Clad in a red necktie at his office desk, Yoon delivered opening remarks for 22 minutes, largely focusing on his administration's achievements and plans for the next three years. On his desk was a replica of former U.S President Harry Truman's "The Buck Stops Here" plaque, which U.S. President Joe Biden gave Yoon during their summit talks in May 2023. A question-and-answer session followed at the briefing room, with reporters raising more sensitive issues, including the ruling party's defeat in the general elections and allegations the first lady illegally accepted a luxury bag as a gift in 2022. "I apologize for causing concern to the people with the unwise conduct of my wife," he said, declining to comment further on the issue, saying his remarks could influence the ongoing prosecution investigation. Yoon, however, maintained a more firm stance on the opposition's calls for a special counsel investigation into separate allegations that the first lady was involved in stock price manipulation, stressing such probes should be launched only after the prosecution and other agencies are determined inadequate. He also expressed his regret regarding Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died in July last year while on a search mission amid heavy downpours, when asked about the push for a special counsel investigation into the military's response to the Marine's death. The press conference, attended by over 100 journalists from local and foreign news outlets, is seen as a demonstration of Yoon's commitment to improving his communication skills after the general elections. In the early months of his presidency, which began in May 2022, Yoon held daily "doorstepping" sessions with reporters as he arrived at work for better communication with the press. That stopped in November 2022, after a reporter got into a shouting match with one of Yoon's aides. The president last held a press conference in August 2022 to mark his first 100 days in office. Source: Yonhap News Agency