Yoon "Thank you for your hard work in the minority opposition situation"... 90-minute dinner meeting with ruling party leadership (Comprehensive Report 2)

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President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a walk with People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, other People Power Party leaders, and presidential office aides after a dinner hosted by the People Power Party leadership on the 24th at the fountain garden in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, along with other party leadership, held a dinner meeting in Yongsan on the 24th. This was the second official dinner between President Yoon and the ruling party leadership in two months, following the first one right after the party convention on July 24.

The dinner, which began around 6:30 p.m. at the Fountain Garden in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office, lasted about an hour and a half. Afterwards, the attendees continued their conversations during a short walk.

A presidential office official explained, "Today's dinner was a formal introduction after the leadership was completed, including the newly appointed Supreme Council members, Policy Committee Chair, Secretary-General, and the Party Leader’s Secretary Office Chief," adding, "It was an occasion to establish a network between the party and government to continue communication through various channels."

Upon arriving at the Fountain Garden, President Yoon shook hands with Leader Han and Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho, who were waiting, and then they moved together to the dining area. When the president arrived, all attendees applauded, and President Yoon greeted them by saying, "Nice to see you. How have you been?" He congratulated the new Supreme Council members individually with handshakes.

President Yoon said to the attendees, "Is this your first time here? I had always thought about having a dinner here, but this is the first time since the Fountain Garden was created in 2022 that I am able to dine here with all of you."

The dinner began with a toast using omija tea. Considering that Leader Han does not drink alcohol, President Yoon prepared omija tea instead of alcoholic beverages.

Yoon: "Leader Han likes meat, so we prepared beef and pork"

In particular, President Yoon personally introduced the menu, saying, "Our Leader Han likes meat, so we prepared beef and pork."

President Yoon shared an anecdote, saying, "I originally planned to grill the barbecue myself," recalling a dinner in May with reporters at the presidential office where he grilled meat and made rolled eggs together with the Chief Secretary. He added, "The rolled eggs didn’t turn out well that day," which made the attendees laugh.

During the meal, they discussed topics such as inter-party relations, the national audit, the visit to the Czech Republic, and the nuclear power ecosystem. President Yoon asked the attendees, "Is the national audit starting soon?" and encouraged them by saying, "You are working hard in this minority government situation."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with People Power Party leadership including Representative Han Dong-hoon, Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho, and presidential office aides after a dinner hosted by the People Power Party leadership on the 24th at the Fountain Garden in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also explained the achievements of the Czech visit, saying, "As the global nuclear power market is expanding tremendously, the Czech Republic wants to cooperate with us," and emphasized, "Criticizing the second phase as a 24 trillion won dumping is unreasonable." He reiterated, "With the rapid increase in electricity demand due to AI semiconductors and others, nuclear power is the only alternative."

In response, Supreme Council member In Yo-han evaluated the government's efforts, saying, "I thought the nuclear power ecosystem, which was damaged during the previous administration, would never recover." The president said, "Through localization involving our companies, we must also cooperate with the nuclear power ecosystem of the counterpart country."

Leader Han asks the president about issues of interest

Leader Han also mentioned or asked questions about issues of interest during the conversation.

During the meal, Floor Leader Choo said, "I was surprised that the president knows a lot about quantum science at a meeting with Han." President Yoon referred to a warning from an expert that "if Han does not work hard on quantum science, future security could be compromised," and said, "We need to study quantum science even if it is difficult, to allocate budget and provide support."

Near the end of the dinner, President Yoon suggested to the attendees, "Let's have a cup of coffee," and asked, "Leader Han, what would you like to have?" When the president ordered an iced latte, Leader Han asked, "You have a cold, is it okay to have something cold?" The president replied, "I prefer cold drinks over hot ones."

A presidential office official said, "The dinner was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere for about an hour and a half," and added, "After the dinner, the president and attendees took photos together in the Fountain Garden while clapping their hands with the slogan 'For the People!'"

After the commemorative photo, President Yoon spontaneously suggested a walk to introduce the park to the attendees. The president strolled side by side with Leader Han and Floor Leader Choo from the Fountain Garden to the children's baseball field, chatting for about ten minutes. President Yoon said, "Coming to Yongsan, the surrounding environment is nice, and it’s good to see children playing up close." He also added, "I had a meal with first-term lawmakers, and next time, it would be good to arrange a gathering with second- and third-term lawmakers as well."

Among those attending the dinner were Leader Han, Floor Leader Choo, Supreme Council members Jang Dong-hyuk, Kim Jae-won, In Yo-han, Kim Min-jeon, Kim Jong-hyuk, Jin Jong-oh, Policy Committee Chair Kim Sang-hoon, Secretary-General Seo Beom-su, Floor Deputy Leader Bae Jun-young, Chief Spokespersons Kwak Kyu-taek and Han Ji-a, and Party Leader’s Secretary Office Chief Jeong Hee-yong. From the presidential office, Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok, National Security Office Chief Shin Won-sik, and Policy Chief Sung Tae-yoon, along with other senior aides, attended. Secretary Park Jeong-ha and Floor Chief Spokesperson Shin Dong-wook, who were scheduled to attend, could not join due to a National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee inquiry.