'Yoon-Han Communication Breakdown'... Eyes on Lee Jae-myung and Han Dong-hoon’s 2nd Meeting

As the meeting between President Yoon Suk-yeol and People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon ended empty-handed, attention is turning to the second meeting between Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and Han. With the Democratic Party pushing for a special investigation law on Kim Geon-hee, and Han also urgently needing to resolve the Kim issue, expectations are growing that the two party leaders could meet to advance related discussions.

Lee proposed the meeting to Han during the party's Supreme Council meeting on the morning of the 21st. Lee told Han, "I hope you have a good meeting with President Yoon today, and if possible, I look forward to meeting with the opposition party leader as well." Han accepted Lee's proposal three hours later. Some analysts suggest that Han's acceptance of the ruling and opposition party leaders' meeting was a move to pressure the presidential office in advance.

As a result, President Yoon rejected Han's requests, including Kim Geon-hee's suspension of external activities, increasing the likelihood of intensified opposition moves around the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law. The Democratic Party has currently proposed the third version of the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law and plans to push for a re-vote if President Yoon exercises his veto power after the bill passes the plenary session next month.

The People Power Party maintains an unacceptable stance toward the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law but has growing concerns about the possibility of its passage within the ruling coalition. This is because at least four defections from the ruling party occurred during the re-vote on the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law earlier this month. The presidential office's failure to provide a solution to the Kim Geon-hee risk is also accelerating public sentiment drifting away from the government and ruling party, which is a cause for concern.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In political circles, it is judged that the two party leaders must bring the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law to the discussion table in some way. Since the law has become a core issue in the political landscape, both the Democratic Party's pressure and the People Power Party's need to seek an exit strategy to prevent public sentiment from drifting away are necessary. The Democratic Party also raised the possibility of discussing the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law as a topic for the leaders' meeting. Kang Yoo-jung, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, said regarding the meeting topics, "We will discuss urgent medical crisis issues such as medical school quotas, and I think we will also discuss solutions to the allegations of Kim Geon-hee's interference in state affairs amid the controversies involving Myung Tae-gyun and Kang Hye-kyung."

However, some argue that more focus should be placed on the implications of the second meeting between the two party leaders. It is interpreted that Han will not easily make a decision on the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law during the ruling and opposition leaders' meeting because the risks to the People Power Party would be significant. Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy said in a phone interview, "From Han's perspective, the fact that Lee is meeting with him on behalf of the presidential office itself is an opportunity to take the lead in the political situation," adding, "Lee may also place more meaning on the meeting in terms of expanding support among the moderate middle ground and securing a support base amid his own judicial risks."