Lee Jun-seok Begins External Communication... Visits Graves of Former Presidents

Meeting with Prime Minister and Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs... Entering Political Practice as Leader of the Main Opposition Party

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader, and Supreme Council members are visiting the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 16th to pay their respects. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] On the 16th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People’s Party, began his official external communication schedule by visiting the graves of former presidents in order and meeting with the Prime Minister, the Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, and opposition party leaders.

On the morning of the same day, Lee visited the Seoul National Cemetery with party leadership and paid respects at the graves of former presidents Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee, Kim Dae-jung, and Kim Young-sam in sequence. At this occasion, Lee expressed his intention to also visit Bongha Village, where the late former President Roh Moo-hyun’s grave is located.

In the following schedule, Lee is set to meet consecutively with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Lee Cheol-hee, People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, and Open Democratic Party leader Choi Kang-wook. This marks his de facto entry into 'political practice' as the leader of the main opposition party.

Discussions with Prime Minister Kim and Senior Secretary Lee are expected to focus on future cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties. Since his inauguration, Lee has emphasized 'cooperation' with the ruling party and government. He also expressed willingness to participate in the permanent consultative body between the ruling and opposition parties proposed by Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Although Lee and Ahn, who had been perceived to have an uncomfortable relationship, recently met unofficially, this is their first official meeting in three years. On this day, the two are expected to attempt last-minute negotiations regarding the merger between the People Power Party and the People’s Party.