With the U.S. Designating South Korea as a Sensitive Country, "Prime Minister Issue Is Urgent"
Despite Internal Party Conflict, "Unity Is Essential in Times of Crisis"
Former President Lee Myung-bak met with Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, on the 17th and urged a swift ruling on the impeachment trial of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, a former ambassador to the United States, in response to the U.S. designating South Korea as a sensitive country. The intention is to have the ruling and opposition parties cooperate to ensure at least Prime Minister Han receives a quick verdict, so that diplomatic and trade issues with the U.S. can be managed.
On the same day, Ahn Cheol-soo conveyed that during his meeting with former President Lee at the Lee Myung-bak Foundation in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Lee said, "The ruling and opposition parties should cooperate to quickly reach a conclusion on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's (impeachment trial) and send him back," adding, "Since the Prime Minister's issue is urgent, shouldn't the ruling be made first?"
Former President Lee emphasized, "Only national unity can properly build this country," and stated, "There has never been a country that overcame a crisis without national unity."
Regarding the dismissal of Prime Minister Han's impeachment trial, he said, "(Choi Jae-hae) the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection dismissed it, so there is no reason not to do the same for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo," and stressed, "When the nation is in crisis, shouldn't at least the Prime Minister be present to respond?"
Former President Lee's remarks are interpreted as supporting the ruling party's call for opposition cooperation in response to the opposition's 'government responsibility theory' following the U.S. designation of South Korea as a sensitive country.
On the 4th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who also met with former President Lee, criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the party, saying, "At such an important time, they are only making provocative remarks like 'Is this really a government?' and 'It is clear that Korea-U.S. cooperation in advanced industries will be restricted,'" and pointed out, "The Democratic Party, led by Lee, has effectively paralyzed government functions through a series of impeachments. Therefore, the minimum duty is to cooperate so that the government can respond diplomatically."
Regarding the situation within the party, former President Lee also urged, "The party must unite especially in times of crisis," and added, "During a crisis, ongoing conflicts should be suspended. Ahn Cheol-soo should take the lead in uniting the party."
After the meeting, Ahn Cheol-soo told reporters in response to a question about how he views lawmakers continuing protests despite the party leadership's message to accept the impeachment trial results, "The Constitutional Court's ruling will not change just because protests are held in front of it," and pointed out, "Rather, lawmakers should calmly wait for the results and return to the National Assembly to properly address serious livelihood and diplomatic issues."
Regarding the reason the U.S. recently designated South Korea as a sensitive country, he said, "It is due to problems stemming from an unstable political situation," and added, "I believe that once the Constitutional Court ruling is made and a normal government form is established, South Korea will be removed from the sensitive country list."
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