South Korean President Moon Jae-in has one year left until his term expires in nine days.
With the approval rating dropping to the lowest level since taking office and the decline in centripetal force being pointed out, some say that it may be difficult to overcome the situation within the term of office due to the chilling relationship with Japan.
The term of office of the South Korean president is limited to one term and five years, and re-election is not permitted. President Moon Jae-in, who took office in 2017, will expire on May 9, next year, one year later.
President Mun has made improving relations with North Korea a top priority, and held three inter-Korean summits in 2018.
However, the relationship between South Korea and North Korea has been stalled since the second summit meeting between the United States and North Korea ended in a farewell.
In addition, the approval rating has dropped to around 30%, the lowest since taking office due to soaring real estate prices, and the ruling party supporting the Mun administration was defeated in the mayoral elections of the capital Seoul and the second city of Busan (Busan) last month.
Within the ruling party, mainstream and non-mainstream groups close to President Mun are fighting for the presidential election in March next year, and it has been pointed out that the president's centripetal force is declining.
President Mun wants to increase the momentum for resuming dialogue with North Korea in the wake of the US-South Korea summit meeting on the 21st of this month, but there is no prospect and it seems that he will be forced to manage the administration severely. ..
Under these circumstances, it is unclear whether the comfort women issue and the issue of "recruitment" during the Pacific War can provide an acceptable solution for the Japanese side, even in relation to Japan, which is chilling. There is also a view that it may be difficult to break through.