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President Yoon Suk-yeol fields questions from reporters while on his way into the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on Aug. 16. (presidential office pool photo)

Wednesday, Aug. 17, marks 100 days since Yoon Suk-yeol took office as South Korea’s president.

However, his administration, which had initially recorded a majority approval rating (52% according to Gallup Korea) shortly after being inaugurated on May 10, has seen its support numbers slashed in half in a matter of three months.

These figures show that a significant number of South Koreans have largely abandoned their expectations and trust in the new administration, the governing style of which has been comparable to the reckless maneuvering of an inexperienced driver.

Yoon’s inauguration pledge to make Korea a “country that truly belongs to the people” seems to be fading further away by the day.

But the only person to blame for this situation is Yoon himself. In the early days of his administration, public opinion was severely critical of him for his appointments of prosecutors and acquaintances to important positions and his failure to properly vet incoming personnel. Despite the noise in the press, Yoon didn’t appear all too bothered.

In addition to hiring acquaintances to work in the presidential office, inappropriate behavior by the president’s wife has earned Yoon criticism. Kim Keon-hee, who had promised to maintain a quiet, behind-the-scenes role, appears to be incapable of distinguishing personal and public affairs. All of this has greatly disappointed the Korean people, who had taken Yoon at his word when he promised his administration would restore justice and common sense.

Yoon also failed to make any mention of the president’s constitutional responsibility of pursuing the peaceful reunification of Korea for more than 90 days after taking office. It was only on Monday that he presented a half-baked proposal to North Korea in his Liberation Day speech.

In addition, the whole process of formulating, promoting and then ultimately abandoning the policy for lowering the elementary school enrollment age to 5 has made many question whether this government is capable of running the country. Most concerning of all, it remains utterly unclear what the Yoon administration’s vision of governance is.

Although 100 days may be a short time for the new government to produce results, it is more than enough time to show what citizens think of the new president’s leadership qualities.

It’s important to look at the reality behind the numbers.

Despite how tired the people are of all the fighting within and among political blocs, Yoon never properly expressed his will to pursue greater integration or cooperation. Instead, with every opportunity that presented itself, the president chose to blame his predecessor and governed by enforcement ordinances that sidelined and ignored the National Assembly.

It is also no wonder that the public has been upset that the president doesn’t understand why his working from home in the midst of a national disaster was so controversial.

In the end, it is the president himself who is the most responsible for this situation. He’s also the only one who can rectify it. But Yoon doesn’t seem to have any major transformational thoughts in mind for now.

Taking questions from the press on his way to work on Tuesday, the president told reporters, “I don't think that change is a matter to be decided on in terms of political gains or losses.” Meanwhile, the presidential office also predicts that there will be some changes made in terms of the personnel working in the public relations department.

This means that all the demands the people have for the government to shift its awareness and change its way of governing are only being seen through the lens of “political gains and losses.”

Meanwhile, during a People Power Party meeting at the National Assembly on Tuesday, floor leader Kweon Seong-dong, who was the main figure behind the ousting of former party leader Lee Jun-seok and in establishing an emergency steering committee, was guaranteed a spot on the committee and also won a confidence vote to remain floor leader.

With all that has already transpired in only three months, it is doubtful whether Yoon and his administration can win over the hearts of the people, who have already seemed to turn their backs on him.

Even on Aug. 8, after returning from his summer holiday and going to work, Yoon promised that he would “always keep a beginner’s mindset and uphold the will of the people.”

The real original “beginner’s mindset,” however, would require him to be humble and to remember the razor-thin 0.73% margin through which he won his place as president.

The president’s every move during the past 100 days have been enough for the public to feel anxious and embarrassed.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]