Handuksoo, Asked About Visiting Lee Jaemyung on Hunger Strike, Says "I Will Consider It"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo responded "I will consider it" when asked on the 5th whether he intended to visit Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is on a hunger strike. However, regarding suggestions for a meeting between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Lee, he stated, "I think it would be difficult for the two to meet willingly given the current situation."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is responding to a question from Seol Hoon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, during the government questioning session at the National Assembly plenary meeting on the 5th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the same day, attending the National Assembly's political sector interpellation, Prime Minister Han answered this way when Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon asked, "After finishing today's interpellation, since you are right in front of here, would you be willing to meet the opposition leader and shake hands on your way out?"

Prime Minister Han also replied "I will consider it" to Cho's question, "Do you plan to suggest to the President that the Chief of Staff or Senior Secretary for Political Affairs visit and meet the opposition leader?" Compared to the previous day when Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon criticized Lee Jae-myung's hunger strike by saying, "If a precedent is set that affects investigations or trials, then in the future anyone, including petty criminals, will go on hunger strikes when summoned," this shows a slightly softened stance.

However, when Justice Party lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong emphasized the harms of recent ideological disputes in politics and proposed a meeting between President Yoon and Lee, Han said, "I will consider that issue, but I will not speak in depth," adding, "Given the current situation, I think it would be difficult for the two to meet willingly."

Earlier, when Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan criticized, "Has there been any administration in the past 30 years that has arrested or attempted to arrest an opposition leader?" Han countered, "I believe investigating matters involving allegations of illegality or unlawfulness is fundamental to our rule of law." He added, "Democracy and the foundation of the rule of law mean that no one can stand above the law if there are allegations of illegality or unlawfulness."

When Kim claimed that despite Lee recently waiving his immunity from arrest and agreeing to undergo a warrant review during the non-session period, the prosecution is demanding his appearance and engaging in political games, Prime Minister Han responded, "I do not think so."