[Insight & Opinion] The Yoon-Han Meeting: Only 'Zero Cola' Considered

With North Korea Sending Troops Abroad, Tensions on the Korean Peninsula Escalate
Ruling Party Faces Self-Destruction Amid Internal Division
Third 'Special Prosecutor Law for First Lady Kim' Emerges as a Political Flashpoint

The presidential office released photos of a meeting between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, to the media. The two sat facing each other at a square table, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of inter-Korean talks. Sitting next to Han was Jeong Jin-seok, the Chief Secretary of the Presidential Office. Although he was described as merely 'attending,' the scene resembled the past when 'Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol' called two prosecutors to sit down and gave them instructions. Some people looking at President Yoon’s expression in the photo said it felt like an interrogation. The image of President Yoon stretching his arms long and placing them on the table, and Han sitting with a red file he had prepared in front of him, created that impression.

One wonders what the presidential office was thinking in choosing to distribute such photos. The only apparent gesture of consideration was the 'Zero Cola' that Han reportedly likes. President Yoon, who was late for the meeting with Han, reportedly invited Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho to the presidential office for dinner immediately after the 81-minute meeting. Han’s persistent demand for a 'private meeting' made it clear that President Yoon’s heart was reluctantly engaged in the meeting.

It was already predicted from the atmosphere that the meeting between President Yoon and Han would end empty-handed. Initially, Han considered briefing the results directly after the meeting with President Yoon, but this was changed to a briefing by Park Jeong-ha, the secretary to the party leader. This was interpreted as meaning there were no significant outcomes from the meeting. According to Park’s statement, “Han spoke about the worsening public sentiment and opinion, and the need for bold changes and reform.” In particular, regarding First Lady Kim Keon-hee, Han reportedly proposed three things to President Yoon: personnel reshuffling in the presidential office, suspension of external activities, and explanations and resolutions of the allegations. Additionally, Park said Han mentioned “the need to proceed with the appointment of a special inspector and the prompt launch of a consultative body involving the ruling party, opposition, government, and administration.”

However, instead of issuing any official stance, the presidential office only gave a cryptic statement saying, “We agreed on the need for the ruling party and government to unite to prevent constitutional violations and ensure the government’s success.” When reports emerged that President Yoon gave no response, the presidential office relayed what he said the next day, but it became clear that the two still had differing perceptions of the issues.

What was confirmed through this meeting was that President Yoon has no intention of changing his existing views on current political issues, including the First Lady’s matters. Of course, the President and his wife may believe that the various allegations raised by the opposition and reported in the media are groundless. Even so, there are many ways to manage the deteriorating public opinion and show efforts to reform the administration. However, the day after the meeting, President Yoon said during a visit to Beomeosa Temple in Busan, “I will accept being hit even if stones are thrown.” This sounded like a declaration that he will not change no matter what anyone says and will continue as is.

The country is in great turmoil both domestically and internationally. North Korea’s deployment of troops to Ukraine in support of Russia raises concerns about what kind of repercussions this will have on the already tense situation on the Korean Peninsula. The opposition appears to be moving toward a strategy to force President Yoon’s early resignation. Meanwhile, the ruling party is trapped in internal division over the First Lady’s issues, showing shortsightedness that fails to foresee even a step ahead. The ruling forces are heading toward mutual destruction. If the ruling forces self-destruct, no one can predict what will become of President Yoon and his wife. The opposition’s third proposal of the ‘Special Prosecutor Law for First Lady Kim Keon-hee’ is increasingly likely to become a trigger within the ruling party. These are issues that can be easily judged by looking back at our political history, yet when faced with the situation, it seems they neither see nor hear properly. Thus, the vicious cycle of our political history repeats itself.

Yoo Chang-sun, Political Commentator