South Korean political scientists gave President Yoon Suk-yeol a failing grade of 2.2 out of 10 for his first half in office. They assessed it as “collapse of public/private distinction,” “disappearance of politics,” “stubborn amateurism,” and “deepening social and political conflicts,” and warned him that he would have a hard time surviving the second half of his term if he doesn't change.

As Kyunghyang Shinmun asked 30 leading political scientists (including foreign affairs and security) to evaluate Yoon's first half of his presidency on Oct. 10 to mark the halfway point of his term, the average score was 2.2 out of 10. The highest score was 5. Even the one person who gave him a 5 explained that they usually give “5 or less” for a failing grade. The most, 10 of them, gave Yoon a 2, some citing his recent approval ratings, which hover around 20 percent. Five academics gave him a zero, saying, “I can't find anything he has done well.”

They evaluated that the unprepared president has stumbled, and his administration has lost direction. “The breakdown of public/private distinction, including the issue of the first lady, is very serious,” said Park Myung-rim, a professor of Area Studies at Yonsei University. ”There were many instances of spontaneous proposals and suspensions, radical pushes and clashes without compromise and coordination, which are the elements of a democratic republic.” “Relying on prosecutors, bureaucrats, and courts, the regime has rapidly plunged into crisis,” Park said. ”It has seriously failed in conflict management and national unity, which are the mainstays of politics, and the state administration has lost its fundamental direction.”

Yoo Seong-jin, a professor at Ewha Womans University's Scranton School of Business, said, “It was disarray and misstep by an amateur president who is over-motivated and stubborn,” adding, ”He highlighted the conflict with hasty solutions and failed to clean up the mess.” Park Myung-ho, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Dongguk University, said, “He didn't know what to do and how to do it,” and analyzed, “It was a case of a president who came out of nowhere, and the presidential system's inherent flaws.” “There is a significant lack of understanding of what the role of the president should be,” said Lee Joon-han, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Incheon National University, adding, ”It seems that Yoon has been playing president for two and a half years.”

Many also pointed to the lack of political power required of a president. “This is the worst time when politics has disappeared and democratic rules have been threatened,” said Jang Seung-jin, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Kookmin University, criticizing, ”The only thing he has done as president is to stay in office.” “He ran the country through dictatorship and disunity rather than fairness and common sense which was his pledge,” said Chae Jin-won, a professor at Kyunghee University's Institute of Public Governance, adding, ”He failed in the general election because of his lack of cooperation with the opposition, and fell into an impeachment crisis and resignation crisis because of his failure to deal with the allegations against first lady Kim Keon-hee.” “Rather than unifying Korean society, Yoon has exacerbated social and political conflicts,” said Kim Hyung-chul, a professor at the Institute for Democracy at Anglican University.

There was also criticism that the rule of law, which Yoon had emphasized, was undermined in Kim’s case. “There is a serious problem with his veto of the bill (Kim's special prosecutor law),” said one professor, who requested anonymity. ”Conservatives have strength on the rule of law, but he seems to have failed even that.” Another professor, who also requested anonymity, said, “Even the kings of the Joseon Dynasty were also checked by his ministers; Yoon doesn't have a system mindset.” “Protecting his family became the main focus of his rule. If there was a grade below F, I would have given it to him.”