Yoon and Han Meet in Yongsan This Afternoon... The Biggest Point of Interest is First Lady Kim Keon-hee's Compromise

Secretary General Attends Informal Talk
Yongsan: "Frank Dialogue... Opportunity to Clear Misunderstandings"
South Korea Hopes for Progressive Decision on Three Major Demands

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 at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 11th after his state visits to the Philippines and Singapore and the ASEAN Summit in Laos.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 21st, President Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, held a meeting at the Yongsan Presidential Office to engage in in-depth discussions on national issues such as First Lady Kim Geon-hee, the allegations involving Myung Tae-gyun, and the scale of medical school expansion. As this meeting is a crucial opportunity for the Yongsan administration, which urgently needs to overcome low approval ratings, and for the ruling party leader seeking to redefine the party-government relationship and find new breakthroughs, the biggest challenge is to produce meaningful results rather than a 'fruitless meeting.' The key point to watch is how both sides will find a compromise on sensitive matters such as the First Lady's issues.

On the 21st, a presidential office official stated, "Tonight's dinner will be an occasion for President Yoon to listen to Leader Han's opinions and have an open and candid conversation about various national issues," adding, "It is difficult to provide immediate answers on each matter, and decisions are expected to be made through further discussions." Another presidential office official cautiously observed, "In a situation where public sentiment is not favorable, a breakthrough in national governance is desperately needed," and "If there are misunderstandings accumulated between the two sides, this could be an opportunity to resolve them." The meeting will be held in a casual conversation format between President Yoon and Leader Han, with Chief Presidential Secretary Jeong Jin-seok attending, so it will not be a completely private meeting.

In particular, coordinating the positions of both sides regarding the First Lady's issues is an urgent task. It is anticipated that Leader Han will likely demand a progressive decision from President Yoon concerning the risks related to the First Lady. On the 17th, Leader Han publicly demanded three major points: the suspension of the First Lady's external activities, cooperation in investigating the allegations involving Myung Tae-gyun, and a personnel reshuffle within the Presidential Office.

As suspicions of the First Lady's involvement in state affairs, triggered by former senior presidential secretary Kim Dae-nam and political broker Myung Tae-gyun, continue, if President Yoon does not make a decisive move, the number of dissenting votes within the People Power Party during the next vote on the special investigation law for the First Lady could increase, which could serve as a pressure tactic. At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 21st, Leader Han declared, "The People Power Party will not be swayed or misled by the words of political brokers. We will ensure that supporting the People Power Party is not something to be ashamed of," signaling a tough response.

Accordingly, there is analysis that the Presidential Office is likely to respond by swiftly establishing the Second Secretariat and appointing a special inspector, as mentioned in a press conference last August. However, within the pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction, there is a view that these two measures alone cannot be a solution. Regarding the personnel reshuffle within the Presidential Office, a presidential office official said, "The authority over personnel appointments is the president's inherent right," adding, "There may be a cabinet reshuffle in the future, but this will be a presidential decision based on necessity rather than the outcome of the meeting."

The opposition parties are increasing pressure regarding the First Lady's issues. The Democratic Party of Korea has presented 'acceptance of the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law' as a measure to evaluate the meeting's outcome. Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, urged, "Leader Han should actively request full acceptance of the 'Kim Geon-hee special investigation law' during his afternoon meeting with President Yoon." Chief spokesperson Cho Seung-rae also warned, "(If Leader Han) fails to achieve results, it will be impossible to avoid mutual destruction with the Yoon administration."