Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon Hold Private Meeting After By-election... Discuss Kim Yeo-sa Risk

As Opposition's Offensive Intensifies, 'Yoon-Han Private Meeting' Rapidly Advances
Kim Dae-nam, Myung Tae-gyun and Others Sense Crisis Inside and Outside Opposition
Discussion Expected on Mrs. Kim Risk, Medical School Expansion, etc.

People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is supporting Yoon Il-hyun, the candidate for Geumjeong District Mayor who is running in the October 16 by-election, in front of the main gate of Pusan National University in Geumjeong District, Busan, on the afternoon of the 9th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

It was reported on the 10th that President Yoon Seok-yeol and People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon have agreed to meet privately after the by-elections on the 16th. They are expected to discuss urgent issues such as the Kim Geon-hee risk.

According to the presidential office on that day, President Yoon recently accepted the suggestion of his aides to have a private meeting with Leader Han. Since President Yoon is currently on a tour attending the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit, the specific schedule and agenda are expected to be set after his return on the 11th.

Until now, Leader Han had continuously requested a private meeting with President Yoon, but the presidential office had shown a negative stance. In particular, when the fact that Leader Han requested a private meeting was revealed to the media, criticism such as "media play" arose within the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction and inside the presidential office, highlighting the 'Yoon-Han conflict' once again.

However, as adverse factors such as the suspicion of former senior presidential secretary Kim Dae-nam ordering attacks on Leader Han and the controversy surrounding political broker Myeong Tae-gyun overlapped recently, President Yoon seems to have agreed on the need to meet with Leader Han as soon as possible to discuss these matters.

Currently, there is strong public opinion both inside and outside the ruling party that a countermeasure must be prepared in response to the Democratic Party of Korea's continuous attacks on Kim Geon-hee through the National Assembly audit and other means. Especially since the opposition party has openly mentioned impeaching President Yoon over the Kim Geon-hee issue, a sense of crisis is widespread.

President Yoon and Leader Han are also expected to exchange views on Myeong Tae-gyun, a key figure in the allegations of Kim Geon-hee's 'nomination interference.' In a media interview, Myeong said that if he were to be investigated by the prosecution, he would ask the prosecutor, "Can you handle it if (President Yoon) resigns and is impeached within a month?" stirring political turmoil.

The successive controversies related to Kim Geon-hee are also important agenda items. Leader Han caused controversy by saying, during a meeting with reporters at the election office of Yoon Il-hyun, the People Power Party candidate for Busan Geumjeong District Mayor, the day before, that he agrees with the party faction's call to 'refrain from Kim Geon-hee's public activities.'

In addition, President Yoon and Leader Han are expected to discuss ways to resolve the medical community's opposition to the increase in medical school admissions. There is also analysis that, given the significant differences in positions between President Yoon and Leader Han on various issues inside and outside the ruling party, reaching consensus in this private meeting may not be easy.