Temporary Cabinet Meeting Transformed into a 'Private Discussion Session'
Prime Minister's Office: "A Forum for Discussion Without Agenda Approval"
The emergency cabinet meeting convened by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to manage the political situation following the martial law incident was changed to a 'closed-door briefing' format. The meeting scheduled for the 9th between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Prime Minister Han was also canceled.
According to the Prime Minister's Office on the 8th, Prime Minister Han was scheduled to convene an emergency cabinet meeting at around 2 p.m. at the Government Seoul Office Building. However, about 40 minutes before the meeting, a notice was issued stating that the format had been changed to a closed schedule called a 'cabinet members briefing.' A Prime Minister's Office official explained, "The format was changed because it is not a deliberation or resolution on agenda items, but a discussion among cabinet members on measures to manage the current situation."
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, are entering the press conference room at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 8th to announce a joint statement containing measures to manage state affairs. Photo by Yonhap News
Additionally, the weekly meeting scheduled for 12 noon on the 9th was also canceled. Since the start of the government, President Yoon has met with Prime Minister Han every Monday, barring special circumstances, to share opinions on overall state affairs.
After President Yoon expressed an apology regarding the martial law incident and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo took control of the 'key' to state administration, he is expected to meet with cabinet members to seek ways to manage the chaotic political situation. Due to demands for the resignation of the head of state, the government has lost a significant portion of its political momentum. In this situation, Prime Minister Han must resolve pressing issues such as reaching an agreement on next year's budget and repairing the strained legislative relations with the major opposition party.
First, the plan is to minimize confusion based on party-government cooperation. On the morning of the same day, Prime Minister Han, together with People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, issued a public statement at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Prime Minister Han emphasized, "There must not be a momentary gap in state affairs." He appealed to the National Assembly and opposition parties, saying, "For the state affairs to operate normally, the passage of the budget bill and its subsidiary bills submitted by the government is essential."
However, opposition parties are strongly opposing. Kim Min-seok, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the state response system centered on Han Duck-soo and Han Dong-hoon as 'unconstitutional.' The opposition's position is that not only President Yoon but also the government and ruling party leadership are subjects of investigation for charges of rebellion. Supreme Council member Kim Min-seok pointed out that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is an "immediate investigation target for rebellion," and that leader Han Dong-hoon "does not have any authority to lead state administration."
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