19th High-level Party-Government Meeting
"Democratic Party Dampens Korea-Japan Relations...
Will Realize Outcomes of Korea-Japan Summit and Prepare Follow-up Measures"
Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea, which has been continuously harsh on the outcomes of the Korea-Japan summit held on the 19th, saying, "They are only stirring up anti-Japanese sentiment for internal party politics and domestic politics," and added, "They go out to the streets every weekend to criticize the government's solutions and pour cold water on the improvement of Korea-Japan relations. They are truly shameless and irresponsible parties that harm national interests."
On the same day, at the high-level party-government meeting held for the first time since his inauguration at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim said, "The previous administration failed to move beyond the past and neglected the diplomatic severance with Japan," and criticized, "(The Democratic Party) is only engaging in 'opposition for the sake of opposition' without any alternatives or solutions."
The Democratic Party has been intensifying its offensive regarding the Korea-Japan summit, arguing that although President Yoon Suk-yeol offered a 'bundle of gifts' including third-party compensation for forced labor victims, restoration of GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement), and withdrawal of the WTO complaint, the achievements gained in return were minimal.
However, Kim highly evaluated the summit's outcomes, stating, "The previously deteriorating Korea-Japan relations have been restored to normal."
He explained, "Japan's export restrictions on three semiconductor materials were lifted after three years, and the Korea-Japan GSOMIA, which was only superficially established under the previous administration, has been fully normalized. We have agreed to establish a high-level economic security consultative body between Korea and Japan to strengthen the semiconductor supply chain, and it seems that close communication channels, including vice-ministerial strategic dialogues, will also be set up."
He then pointed out that the opposition party only criticizes without proper solutions, saying, "It reminds me of the incompetent national leaders during the late Joseon Dynasty who stubbornly pursued isolationist policies, ignoring global trends and focusing solely on domestic power struggles, which ultimately ruined the country."
Kim interpreted the Democratic Party's offensive as a shield within the party.
He said, "They destroyed the National Assembly to shield Lee Jae-myung, and now they are using diplomatic issues as a shield to suppress the conscience declarations of the 'Bimyeong faction' within the Democratic Party, harming national interests," and criticized, "The Democratic Party's obstinacy will never succeed." He also stated, "In a situation where all countries prioritize national interests and cooperate, only Korea and Japan are turning their backs on each other, which is a great loss for both countries," adding, "We cannot properly advance forward by only looking back."
Kim emphasized, "We must actively promote to the public that relations with Japan are moving toward new cooperation, and the party and government must mobilize all their capabilities to ensure that our sincerity is well known to the people," and stressed, "We must do our best to prepare follow-up measures so that the outcomes of the Korea-Japan summit can be tangibly felt in the lives of the people."
On the same day, Kim also expressed his intention to hold high-level party-government meetings regularly to strengthen communication between the party and the government.
Kim said, "The party, government, and the presidential office must work as one team to solve livelihood issues and maintain good teamwork," and added, "In the future, we will hold regular meetings twice a month as a matter of course, and if there are urgent matters, I hope we can communicate closely at any time."
He said, "Once any policy is announced, its ripple effects felt on the ground are very significant, and sometimes, contrary to the original intent, other aspects may be exaggerated or misinterpreted," and “Above all, the ruling party will take the lead in listening carefully to the voices of the people and reflecting them well in state affairs. The party will do its best to ensure that policies are planned and implemented from the perspective of the people.”
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