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The upcoming summit meeting between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expected this week, is likely to focus on livelihood issues as the core agenda. Within the Democratic Party, there is a strong voice that the public sentiment from the general election must be conveyed without distortion. However, there are also opinions that President Yoon should make efforts to open the door to dialogue regarding preliminary agendas and related matters.

At the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd, Lee said, "I will meet the President and convey the public sentiment revealed in this general election without any distortion," adding, "The people have sternly commanded us to revive livelihoods because life is difficult. Our politics must solve the people's issues of making a living." He continued, "The Presidential Office, the government, and the National Assembly must change together," and said, "We must not fear or hesitate to make changes for the people," expressing hope that "this summit will become a turning point for the restoration of politics for the people."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Earlier, Lee had proposed a livelihood recovery support fund that would provide 250,000 KRW per person nationwide through the general election. Within the Democratic Party, it is seen as highly likely that Lee will raise this as an agenda item at the upcoming summit. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Chan-dae mentioned in an MBC radio interview that the livelihood recovery support fund is the 'agenda' that Lee is most focused on.

In the upcoming summit, the Democratic Party is expected to demand an expansion of the government's fiscal role, including the 250,000 KRW livelihood support fund. Following Lee, Democratic Party floor leader Hong Ik-pyo introduced the economic situation, including the slowdown in economic growth rate, and said, "The Democratic Party proposed a supplementary budget (추경) in a situation where the Korean economy is in crisis and livelihoods are collapsing due to high inflation, high oil prices, and high exchange rates," adding, "It means taking extraordinary measures to save the people and restore the economy together." Hong emphasized, "Now is the time to pursue expansionary and proactive fiscal policies through a supplementary budget to alleviate the people's suffering."

After the Supreme Council meeting, Democratic Party spokesperson Han Min-soo said, "The basic stance of the summit between the President and the leader is to save livelihoods. Many people are facing limits in making a living due to the economic situation, high inflation, and high interest rates, so the President, the main opposition party, and the political circle must unite to focus on restoring the economy and livelihoods," adding, "Accordingly, our party will prepare the agenda, and discussions will take place."

Additionally, Democratic Party lawmakers commonly presented the processing of the Special Act on Military Service Members, the Itaewon Special Act, and the Jeonse Fraud Special Act as agenda items. This appears to be mindful of the fact that President Yoon could exercise the right to request reconsideration (veto) in both the 21st and 22nd National Assemblies.

However, they also expressed the intention to convey the public sentiment from the general election through this summit and to take the initiative in state affairs management. Democratic Party Strategic Planning Committee member Min Hyung-bae said on BBS radio, "There must be sufficient prior coordination of the agenda," adding, "Holding a summit without agenda coordination is a surprise show to get through the moment, which will not help either President Yoon or the ruling party." Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Jung-sik also said on CBS radio, "The power's unilateral dominance and economic incompetence and failure shown so far must be sincerely apologized to the people," and "The summit should be a place to change the wrong state management policy."

There is also an expectation that free dialogue on the overall state affairs beyond specific issues may continue. Floor leader Hong said in an SBS radio interview, "I think a broader and freer conversation will take place," adding, "We need to coordinate our positions with the goal of overcoming the economic crisis and saving livelihoods within a big framework."

On the 1st, amid the prolonged medical-government conflict over the plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 students, citizens at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, are watching President Yoon Seok-yeol's national address regarding healthcare reform. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Meanwhile, regarding the summit agenda, President Yoon said, "Since I invited Leader Lee to Yongsan, I did not invite him to say what I want to say, but rather to listen to him a lot," adding, "I invited him to listen, so I will not impose any particular restrictions on the agenda and will have a diverse conversation."