Presidential Office: "Meeting After Leadership Completion"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is seen clasping hands and taking a commemorative photo with People Power Party's new leadership, including Representative Han Dong-hoon (left) and Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho (right), at a dinner held on July 24 in front of the Fine Grass at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
"Our leader Han Dong-hoon likes meat, so we prepared beef and pork."
On the 24th, President Yoon Suk-yeol said this while explaining the menu at a dinner meeting with Han Dong-hoon and other People Power Party leaders in Yongsan. The dinner menu was Korean cuisine, and omija juice was prepared for the toast.
President Yoon seemed conscious of the rumors of conflict between Yoon and Han that arose after he effectively declined Han's request for a private meeting before the dinner, and created a natural atmosphere by using the friendly term "our leader Han."
It is reported that President Yoon and the party leadership continued their conversation during the meal on topics such as inter-party relations, the national audit, the visit to the Czech Republic, and the nuclear power ecosystem.
This was the second official dinner between President Yoon and the ruling party leadership in two months, following the first one on July 24, right after the party convention.
According to the presidential office, when President Yoon arrived at the dinner venue around 6:30 p.m., the attendees welcomed him with applause.
President Yoon greeted them saying, "Nice to see you. How have you been?" and shook hands with each attendee. Then he asked, "Is this your first time here?" and added, "It was very hot until last week, and it will get colder next week, so I wanted to have dinner here myself, but now we get to eat together like this."
From the party, attendees included leader Han Dong-hoon, floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, Supreme Council members Jang Dong-hyuk, Kim Jae-won, In Yo-han, Kim Min-jeon, Jin Jong-oh, Kim Jong-hyuk, Policy Committee Chair Kim Sang-hoon, Secretary-General Seo Beom-su, Deputy Floor Leader Bae Jun-young, Chief Spokespersons Kwak Kyu-taek and Han Ji-a, and Chief of Staff to the Floor Leader Jeong Hee-yong.
From the presidential office, Chief of Staff to the President Jeong Jin-seok, Director of National Security Office Shin Won-sik, Director of Policy Office Sung Tae-yoon, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary for Public Relations Lee Do-woon, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Kim Joo-hyun, Senior Secretary for Civil Society Jeon Gwang-sam, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Science and Technology Park Sang-wook, Senior Secretary for Low Birthrate Response Yoo Hye-mi, and spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon attended together.
This dinner included all senior secretaries, including Director Sung who could not attend the July Czech special envoy dispatch and the newly established Senior Secretary for Low Birthrate Response.
A presidential office official explained, "The attendees will engage in conversation in a relaxed atmosphere wearing suits without ties," and added, "Today's dinner is a meeting to introduce the newly appointed Supreme Council members, Policy Committee Chair, Secretary-General, and Party Leader’s Chief of Staff, and to build a party-government network to continue communication through various channels after the party leadership has been completed."
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