People Power Party "Listening to the Voice of the People" vs Democratic Party "No Will for Change" (Summary)

Evaluation of the First Summit Meeting on the 29th: Differences in Positions Between Ruling and Opposition Parties
Ruling Party: "Welcomes Cooperation on Medical Reform"
Opposition Party: "Situation Awareness Is Too Complacent"

The ruling party highly praised the meeting between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 29th, calling it the first summit meeting in two years since the presidential election and saying it "opened the door to dialogue." On the other hand, the opposition agreed that it was the first step in communication but expressed regret that they failed to narrow the policy gaps.

Jung Hee-yong, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement that day, "President Yoon listened attentively to the voices of public sentiment conveyed by Representative Lee," adding, "Regarding medical reform, the Democratic Party's willingness to cooperate was greatly welcomed by the government and the ruling party."

Senior Spokesperson Jung continued, "(This meeting) was a venue for wise communication on major livelihood and state affairs issues, a turning point and starting point for restoring dialogue politics and cooperation," emphasizing, "Starting today, the president, the opposition, and the ruling party will continue meetings without being bound by formalities."

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is speaking at a summit meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol held on the 29th at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the Democratic Party, while agreeing on the need for communication with the presidential office, criticized that "no change was found."

Park Sung-jun, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said at a briefing after the meeting, "I asked the representative about his thoughts on the summit meeting," and conveyed, "Representative Lee said, 'It was frustrating and disappointing. We should place meaning on opening the first chapter of communication.'" He added, "The Democratic Party had sufficiently conveyed the need for a shift in state affairs policy to the presidential office in advance, but there was no related will even in the closed-door meeting," explaining, "The unilateral dominance of the Yoon administration was judged in the recent general election, but there was no will, so we were disappointed."

The Democratic Party stated that during the meeting, they discussed the situation in the media sector subjected to forced investigations due to defamation, research and development (R&D) budgets, pension reform and medical reform, the Itaewon special law, and the livelihood consultative body involving the ruling party, opposition, and government. However, only on medical reform was there consensus between President Yoon and Representative Lee. Even then, regarding topics raised by the Democratic Party other than the issue of increasing medical school quotas, the president's responses were insufficient.

Spokesperson Park said, "We had high expectations for the summit meeting, but no change was found," adding, "The perception of the situation was too complacent, raising concerns about future state affairs. In particular, there seemed to be no will to restore livelihoods and shift policy direction, which our party had advocated."

The Justice Innovation Party and New Future also expressed positions similar to the Democratic Party.

Kang Mi-jung, spokesperson for the Justice Innovation Party, said in a statement that day, "We had some hope, but the result was as expected," criticizing, "At today's meeting, President Yoon focused more on speaking than listening, but the problem is that there was no substance." Choi Sung, senior spokesperson for New Future, also evaluated, "There was no joint agreement, and just looking at the Democratic Party's position that 'the perception of the situation is complacent' shows it was a failed meeting," adding, "Compared to past meetings between presidents and opposition leaders, today's meeting deserves a failing grade."