President Moon's Art of Negotiation Amid Meeting with Ruling and Opposition Floor Leaders

Cheongwadae Sangchunjae Decided as Negotiation Venue, Agenda and Meeting Timing Variable... 21st National Assembly's Changed Political Environment Highlights 'Cooperation Model'

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min, Lee Ji-eun, Son Seon-hee] The luncheon meeting at the Blue House on the 28th between President Moon Jae-in and the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties is a moment to confirm the possibility of a shift in the political landscape. With the inauguration of the 21st National Assembly scheduled for the 30th and the rising importance of 'cooperation,' attention is focused on how changes in 'political power' will affect the political order.

The Blue House's choice of Sangchunjae, a symbolic space of hanok and greenery (녹음, Nok-eum), as the luncheon venue is a strategic move to facilitate discussions in a comfortable and gentle atmosphere.

President Moon, Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, are scheduled to meet at noon in the front yard of Sangchunjae, exchange light greetings, and take commemorative photos. After a 1 hour and 10 minute luncheon at Sangchunjae, they are expected to take a walk around the Blue House grounds and engage in free conversation.

Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

A senior Blue House official stated, "The president and the two floor leaders will have a conversation without any aides present, aiming for an open and candid dialogue." In fact, the meeting is planned to proceed with minimal attendance, with only Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min expected to be present.

The agenda is also a key point of interest. Although no agenda has been set in advance, the Blue House, ruling party, and opposition are preparing for various variables. The Blue House is striving to establish a bipartisan cooperation framework to overcome the national crisis caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

While requesting cooperation on the submission of the third supplementary budget (추경, Chugyeong) bill, a message urging the progressive succession of the 'Standing Consultative Body of the Ruling Party, Opposition, and Government' is also expected. A Blue House official predicted, "There will be discussions about broad cooperation on overall state affairs."

The agenda is a card that the opposition can politically utilize. The opposition's basic negotiation strategy is to gain political reflexive benefits by touching on the ruling party's Achilles' heel.

Floor leader Joo explained to reporters, "Although it is a meeting without a preset agenda to have an open and candid discussion about overall state affairs, we are generally reviewing policies," adding, "Regarding the third supplementary budget, we will listen to the details, usage, and funding methods before deciding the party's position." From the opposition's perspective, there is no urgent reason, but in a situation where the party is seeking change, they cannot help but be cautious about being labeled as the 'opposition that obstructs.'

The Blue House meeting arranged two days before the inauguration of the 21st National Assembly can also be used as an advantage by the opposition. The opposition is currently negotiating the organization of the National Assembly, including the distribution of standing committee chairmanships, despite their limited number of seats.

With the Democratic Party declaring its intention to take all standing committee chairmanships, the Blue House is in a difficult position to find solutions to seek opposition cooperation. It is not easy for the Blue House, which must create a new cooperative model for governance, to side with the ruling party's hardline stance.

Meanwhile, regarding the issue of pardons for former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, which has been mentioned within the United Future Party, a cautious approach is gaining weight. Floor leader Joo drew a line on speculations that the pardon issue would be raised at the Blue House meeting, calling it "speculative reporting."