Yoon's Farewell for Overseas Trip Attended by People Power Party Leadership... Lee Jun-seok Absent

Kwon Seong-dong "No Official Participation Request, Going Voluntarily"

On the 27th, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, and Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, were seen conversing as they returned after seeing off President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife Kim Geon-hee, who were visiting Madrid, Spain, to attend the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. / Seongnam = Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Kwon Seong-dong, leader of the People Power Party, visited Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 27th to see off President Yoon Seok-yeol. Floor leader Kwon attended the event along with Song Eon-seok, deputy floor leader, to bid farewell to President Yoon and the First Lady.

After the Supreme Council meeting that day, Floor Leader Kwon told reporters, "Since the president from our party is departing for his first summit meeting, and my schedule happened to be free at that time, I decided to attend." He explained, "There was no official request from the presidential office for us to attend; I am going voluntarily."

Representative Lee Jun-seok did not attend the send-off event. Instead, at the same time, he attended a seminar hosted by Representative Choi Jae-hyung. When meeting with reporters, Lee did not make any particular remarks and moved on to his next schedule.

Various interpretations have emerged regarding the fact that only the floor leader attended the send-off event for President Yoon's first overseas trip without the party leader. Some speculate that it may be related to the uncomfortable atmosphere between the presidential office and Representative Lee.

At that day’s Supreme Council meeting, pro-Yoon faction lawmakers expressed messages wishing for the president’s successful trip. Supreme Council member Jo Su-jin said, "President Yoon said he would discuss export issues and pursue national interests from an economic and industrial perspective," adding, "The People Power Party leadership will do its best to support President Yoon’s national interest diplomacy." Supreme Council member Bae Hyun-jin said, "I heard that President Yoon studied and prepared with the attitude of dedicating himself for the national interest," and added, "I expect broad discussions not only on North Korea’s denuclearization participation but also on various economic cooperation matters."