By Song Baleun and Kim Minji

President Moon Jae-in on Jan. 10 will stress “better and active communication” in his New Year’s news conference at Cheong Wa Dae.

"President Moon’s New Year’s news conference on Jan. 10 will run for 100 minutes from 10 a.m. at Yeongbingwan Guest House in Cheong Wa Dae," Kwon Hyuk-Ki, director of the presidential office’s Chunchugwan Press Center, told a news briefing on Jan. 6.

The president will first read a statement for 20 minutes at Cheong Wa Dae’s main office and then go to the guesthouse to host a Q&A session with about 200 domestic and foreign journalists from 10:25 a.m.

To shorten the distance between the president and the media, Kwon said, the news conference this year will feature a fan-shaped stage and follow the format of a town hall meeting, in which participants can share their opinions.

Moreover, President Moon will personally host the Q&A session with minimal assistance from Vice Presidential Spokesperson Ko Min-jung. In a change from last year’s news conference, attendees can also ask more than one question each.

"The New Year’s news conference will proceed in a format that maximizes interaction with the press corps," Kwon said. "The president will also host the Q&A session in a comfortable and easy manner."

In his second New Year’s news conference, President Moon is likely to discuss the economy including his administration’s push for "innovative and inclusive growth" and the Gwangju job project involving a car factory in the southern city, in addition to diplomatic issues including the forthcoming second summit between North Korea and the U.S. and prospects for inter-Korean relations.

brightsong@korea.kr