Yoon-Lee Meeting Announced 4 Hours Before Interview... 'A High-Level Political Strategy?'

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Representative Han Dong-hoon Meet at the Presidential Office
Confirm Willingness to Hold Sudden Ruling and Opposition Leaders' Talks Ahead of Meeting
Representative Han Dong-hoon May Gain Greater Negotiation Power with the Presidential Office

On the 21st, Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party who was scheduled to have a private talk with President Yoon Seok-yeol, expressed his intention to hold talks with Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. At a critical time ahead of the meeting with President Yoon, the very announcement of a meeting schedule with the opposition leader, whose exact timing has not yet been determined, is interpreted as having a high degree of political implication.

Park Jeong-ha, chief secretary to Leader Han, stated in a press release on the 21st, "Leader Lee proposed a meeting to Leader Han, and Leader Han willingly agreed for the sake of people-centered politics." Park added, "The two party leaders had previously promised at their last meeting to meet again in the future," and "the specific schedule will be discussed later."

Handonghun, leader of the People Power Party (left), and Lee Jaemyung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are greeting each other ahead of the ruling and opposition party leaders' meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on September 1. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, at the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting on the same day, Leader Lee addressed Leader Han, saying, "I hope you will persuade the president well and lead a shift in the government's policy direction. I hope this will be a good opportunity to revive politics," and added, "Have a good meeting, achieve good results, and if possible, I hope you will also meet with the opposition leader."

Leader Han's active response to Leader Lee's proposal to "meet once" indicates a positive engagement.

The discussion of a meeting between the ruling and opposition party leaders, announced at a critical time for the meeting between President Yoon and Leader Han, carries significant meaning even in the meeting itself. Previously, on September 1st, Leaders Han and Lee held a bilateral meeting at the National Assembly and agreed on the establishment of a joint body to promote common livelihood pledges. With the political schedule, including the October 16 by-elections, now concluded, conditions have been set for the ruling and opposition leaders to meet and discuss political agendas. However, the timing of the announcement is notable.

For Leader Han, if he fails to find a breakthrough on key issues such as First Lady Kim Keon-hee, the allegations against Myung Tae-gyun, and the scale of medical school expansion during his meeting with President Yoon, he will have a card to seek a breakthrough with the opposition. So far, the government and ruling party have been able to utilize the president's re-request authority (veto power) in a situation where the ruling party holds a minority in the National Assembly because the People Power Party holds 108 seats. The opposition has persistently urged Leader Han to make a decisive move regarding the special investigation laws on Chae Sang-byung and Kim Keon-hee.