In a Warm Atmosphere, Lee Jun-seok Meets Song Young-gil... Shared Agreement to "Stop Unfair Criticism"

Creating a Warm Atmosphere
Lee Jun-seok "Difficult to Reveal Details but We Can Achieve Cooperative Results"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] On the 17th, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, paid a courtesy visit to Song Young-gil, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Lee also expressed his hope that "both sides would make efforts to establish a model of bipartisan cooperation."

Lee visited the Democratic Party leader's office for a greeting. He said, "With the election of two leaders who are each recognized for expressing their own principled opinions, there is great public expectation that exchanges between the two parties will proceed in a different form. As the opposition party, we inevitably have to criticize the ruling party, but if we unfairly criticize in the face of national crises, the public's sober judgment will follow."

The conversation between the two party leaders took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Lee proposed, "I would like to invite you to a meal to have an opportunity to learn from Leader Song's political experience and wisdom. Would you accept?" Leader Song mentioned that both of their Catholic baptismal names are Andrea and that they have both been vaccinated, saying, "I hope we can join forces together."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Leader Song said, "I sincerely congratulate Leader Lee on his election," and added, "When I went to Gwangju and heard about the May 18 events, and when I went to Daegu and saw how you organized your thoughts on supporting the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, who introduced you to politics, I was deeply moved."

After the visit, Lee said, "Leader Song gave good policy suggestions, and there are parts I agree with. Although it is difficult to disclose details yet, I believe we can achieve some results in bipartisan cooperation."

Meanwhile, Lee revealed to reporters that Seong Il-jong, a People Power Party lawmaker, is in charge of practical discussions for the merger talks with the People Party, along with former lawmakers Oh Shin-hwan and Lee Jae-young. Regarding the criticism that the People Party's announcement of additional party branch chiefs might be a negative signal for the merger talks, Lee said, "I was not aware of it in advance," and "I have been hearing many new things from the People Party these days."