Yongsan on South Korea's Request for a One-on-One Meeting: "A Separate Matter for Consultation"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, who came to greet him upon his return from the official visit to the Czech Republic at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 22nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol and People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, along with the party leadership, will hold a dinner meeting in Yongsan on the 24th. Although the one-on-one meeting between President Yoon and Leader Han was canceled after the presidential office stated the day before that it was a "matter for separate consultation" following Han's request for a private meeting, Yongsan's position is to make the occasion a place for communication and harmony as it is a meet-and-greet with the new leadership.
A presidential office official said, "The dinner will cover various topics including the outcomes of President Yoon's visit to the Czech Republic and medical reform," adding, "While it is unlikely that in-depth discussions on current issues will take place due to the large number of attendees, it is a meet-and-greet with the new ruling party leadership, so it will be an occasion to encourage and strengthen party-government harmony."
This will be the second official dinner between President Yoon and the ruling party leadership since the dinner held right after the party convention in July. From the party side, a total of 16 people will attend, including Leader Han, Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho, Supreme Council members, and key party officials. From the presidential office, Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok, Policy Chief Seong Tae-yoon, National Security Office Chief Shin Won-sik, and other senior aides will participate.
Some point out that efforts by the party and government are needed to dispel the stigma of a "fruitless meeting," as the presidential office continues to hold a negative stance on Han's proposal to "reconsider the 2025 medical school expansion," and the "ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body" remains stagnant without progress. This is because plans to devise strategies against the opposition during the regular National Assembly session and national audit, seek solutions to legislative conflicts and livelihood policies, and demonstrate party-government harmony may face setbacks.
Theories of conflict between Yoon and Han also seem to be resurfacing. Park Jeong-ha, chief secretary to the People Power Party leader, refuted in a media statement the day before, saying, "Some reports cite a remark from a key presidential office official that the failure of the private meeting was due to Han Dong-hoon's leadership prematurely revealing the request for a private meeting. However, Han Dong-hoon's leadership confirms once again that they did not intentionally disclose the request in advance."
Leader Han also addressed reporters at the National Assembly on the same day, targeting the official in question, saying, "There are repeated leaks and stories from some quarters. Not only is that not true, but is it something that should not be reported that the ruling party leader requested a private meeting with the president?" He added, "No, it is not. Does that feel like an attempt to tarnish or insult? It does not."
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