"Tomorrow's Dinner, an Occasion to Encourage the New Leadership"
"Continuing Communication with the Party and Seeking Common Ground"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is walking together with Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, and others at a dinner hosted for current and former leaders of the People Power Party, held on July 24 in front of the Fine Glass at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 23rd, the Presidential Office effectively declined the request from Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, for a private meeting with President Yoon Seok-yeol before their dinner, stating that it was "a matter to be discussed separately."
A Presidential Office official told reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office that afternoon, "Tomorrow's event is to encourage the new leadership," indicating the same.
President Yoon was scheduled to host a dinner on the evening of the 24th with Han and the new leadership of the People Power Party, but Han requested a private meeting with the President before the dinner. This was interpreted as an attempt to discuss key issues in advance to achieve substantive results.
However, there was considerable negative sentiment within the Presidential Office regarding Han's proposal for a private meeting. Regarding the leak of Han's private meeting request to the outside, pro-Yoon factions criticized, saying, "It is customary not to disclose private meetings," and "Han's side seems to engage in media play too frequently."
The Presidential Office official explained, "A private meeting does not necessarily have to happen tomorrow to be considered successful," adding, "It can be seen as something to be discussed later."
He continued, "Some media interpret the fact that the private meeting request was reported as discord, but please understand it as something that happened during the process of consultation," and said, "We are continuing communication and seeking common ground."
The dinner is expected to be attended by 16 members of the People Power Party, including Leader Han, Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho, Supreme Council members, Policy Committee Chair, Secretary-General, Senior Deputy Floor Leader, Chief Spokesperson, Senior Deputy Spokesperson, Chief of the Party Leader’s Secretariat, and Chief of the Floor Leader’s Secretariat.
From the Presidential Office, Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok, Policy Chief Sung Tae-yoon, National Security Office Chief Shin Won-sik, and several senior officials will attend.
The dinner is expected to include discussions related to the recent conflict between the Presidential Office and Leader Han over the increase in medical school quotas.
Regarding this, a Presidential Office official reiterated the existing stance, saying, "For the 2025 academic year medical school quotas, admissions have already started, so cancellation is practically impossible," adding, "However, from 2026 onward, if the medical community presents reasonable opinions, discussions can be reopened from scratch."
He also said, "Regarding the formation of a bipartisan parliamentary consultative body, the party and government are cooperating with the same mindset to activate it promptly," and added, "The government will work with the party to ensure that the medical community can quickly come to the dialogue table."
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