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President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol speaks at a press conference on March 10 from the National Assembly following his election win. (pool photo)

South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol said Thursday that he planned to “govern based on the public’s common sense” while “staying away from any blocs or ideologies that threaten liberal democracy.”

He also stated his intention to “firmly uphold the principle of the rule of law, while punishing corruption sternly from the side of the people.” As a goal for his governing approach, he declared an “era of unity and prosperity.”

Yoon held a press conference Thursday at the main auditorium of the National Assembly Library to share his comments after his election win.

“When the standards for governing are the people’s interests and national interest rather than political advantage or disadvantage, there will be no divisions of a ‘progressive’ or ‘conservative’ Republic of Korea before us, no ‘Yeongnam’ or ‘Honam,’” he declared, referring to two regions in Korea known for their differing political leans.

“I, Yoon Suk-yeol, will only consider the public,” he said.

He went on to say, “In terms of a direction for resolving issues of national unity and regional emotion, we will need to join together so that all regions can develop in a fair and balanced way.”

“I have no cause for reflecting on the election outcome. My only job now is to move forward with the people,” he added, in an apparent reference to the fact that he was elected by the slimmest margin — 0.73 percentage points — of any president in South Korean history.

Yoon also stressed plans to cooperate with the Democratic Party, given the minority status of his People Power Party in the National Assembly.

“Politics for the people, politics that prioritize the national interest and benefiting livelihoods, will not be possible through the efforts of the president and ruling party alone,” he said.

“I intend to communicate with the National Assembly and govern together with the opposition,” he continued.

As a former prosecutor, Yoon placed particular emphasis on the “rule of law” and rooting out corruption.

“I intend to sternly punish corruption that threatens democracy, not from a position of ‘my side’ and ‘your side’ but from the side of the people, and I will firmly uphold the principle of the rule of law, which applies fairly to all citizens,” he said.

“I am reflecting on the spirit of liberal democracy and its fairness and common sense through the eras, along with the constitutional spirit of the rule of law,” he added.

When asked by reporters about his plans to appoint a special prosecutor for a scandal involving a development project in Seongnam’s Daejang neighborhood, which had dogged Yoon’s main opponent Lee Jae-myung, he avoided giving an immediate answer.

“I think it’s better for all those issues to be handled according to the system,” he said.

Despite his message about “governing together,” Yoon also seemed to send a pointed message to the Democratic Party with the remarks that he would “avoid outdated ideologies that threaten liberal democracy” and “approach governing based on the public’s common sense.”

Throughout his election campaign, Yoon had denounced the Democratic Party as "activist movement pedigree peddlers” and a “left-wing activist administration.”

Yoon also stressed the importance of growth.

“Without warm welfare and growth, we cannot continue. Sustainable development is only possible when growth and welfare exist in a fair relationship of mutual reinforcement,” he said.

On the topic of North Korea, he signaled a hardline attitude while emphasizing principles.

“I plan to respond resolutely according to principle to illegal and irrational acts by North Korea, while always leaving the door open for inter-Korean dialogue,” he said. During his election campaign, he had made reference to the possibility of carrying out a “preemptive strike” on the North.

Yoon also said he would “own up frankly to any mistakes rather than hiding behind my advisers” — another jab at the Moon Jae-in administration’s governing approach.

Meanwhile, People Power Party lawmaker Chang Je-won, a key associate of Yoon’s, was named chief of staff for his presidential transition committee. People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo has been talked about as a strong contender to head the committee.

A party official said Yoon would “make a decision on the committee’s leader and direction after meeting with Ahn to discuss matters related to the committee.”

By Jang Na-rye, staff reporter

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