Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon to Meet Privately Early Next Week: "To Hold as Soon as Possible"

Korea "Presidential Office Personnel Reshuffle Needed"
Presidential Office 'Uncomfortable' Over Criticism Targeting Mrs. Kim
Various Sensitive Issues Discussed in Private Meeting

President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee, having completed the schedules related to the Korea-Japan summit and the ASEAN summit, are seen boarding Air Force One at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, on the 11th (local time) before returning home, greeting people. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, will have a private meeting early next week.

A presidential office official stated on the 14th, "The meeting between President Yoon and Leader Han is scheduled to take place as soon as possible early next week, following the coordination of schedules after the October 16 by-elections."

Earlier, Leader Han had suggested that a personnel reshuffle within the presidential office was necessary to dispel public concerns and worries regarding First Lady Kim Keon-hee, raising the possibility that the private meeting might not take place. However, the presidential office has since reaffirmed the meeting schedule.

During this meeting, President Yoon and Leader Han are expected to discuss various allegations surrounding First Lady Kim. Leader Han holds the position that the so-called 'Hannam-dong line,' referring to close associates of the First Lady, should be reorganized, but the presidential office has expressed discomfort with Leader Han’s remarks, stating that the existence of such a group is unclear.

Until now, Leader Han had continuously requested a private meeting with President Yoon, but the presidential office had shown a negative stance. However, as adverse issues surrounding former senior presidential secretary Kim Dae-nam and Myung Tae-kyun have accumulated recently, the presidential office has shifted its position to accept Leader Han’s request for a private meeting.

It is reported that the presidential office decided on the meeting schedule during a working-level meeting held the day before. In addition to First Lady Kim, sensitive issues are expected to be broadly discussed during the private meeting.