Joo Ho-young Floor Leader Accompanies Yoon on Overseas Trip: "Will Consider Cooperation in Divided Korean Politics"

Regarding the 'Jeondangdaehoe Discussion,' the response was "I don't know well."

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, will accompany President Yoon Seok-yeol on his upcoming trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland scheduled for June 14-21. In particular, he plans to attend the Davos Forum in Switzerland. Joo said, "I will think about how cooperation is possible in a divided world, including Korean politics, and report back."

After the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 13th, Joo told reporters, "The theme of the Davos Forum is 'Cooperation in a Divided World,' and since this phenomenon is serious in our political circles as well, I will go and observe carefully."

Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader of the People Power Party (Photo by Yonhap News)

Since he will spend a long time with the president, there is growing interest in whether there will be an exchange of opinions regarding the People Power Party’s party convention, which is approaching in two months. However, when asked by reporters if he expects to discuss the party convention with President Yoon, Joo drew a line, saying, "I don't know."

This is not the first time a sitting president has taken ruling party members on a diplomatic trip. For example, when former President Park Geun-hye made a state visit to China in 2013, former Saenuri Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmakers Chung Mong-joon and Cho Won-jin accompanied her as special envoys. Chung was the chairman of the Korea-China Parliamentary Diplomacy Council, and Cho was the secretary of the Korea-China Parliamentary Exchange System and a representative lawmaker of the Korea-China Political Economy Forum.

When former President Park visited France, former Saenuri Party lawmaker and current Governor of Gangwon Province Kim Jin-tae was also part of the delegation.

Meanwhile, President Yoon will visit the UAE from June 14 to 17 at the invitation of Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. This is the first state visit to the UAE by a Korean head of state since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1980. President Yoon will then attend the World Economic Forum (WEF, Davos Forum) held in Davos, Switzerland, on June 18.