Park Ji-won Urges Jang Donghyuk to Meet President Lee: "Don't Try to Become a Fake Yoon"

Park Ji-won Urges Jang Donghyuk to Accept President Lee's Meeting Proposal Without Conditions
Criticizes Jang for Emulating Yoon Sukyeol's Politics, Calls for Genuine Dialogue and Communication

Park Ji-won, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, urged Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, to "accept President Lee Jaemyung's proposed meeting without attaching various conditions." On the 29th, Park wrote on social media, "When President Lee proposed a meeting between the ruling and opposition party leadership, Leader Jang Donghyuk responded by saying, 'The format and agenda are important,' and set conditions. If the agenda and format are predetermined, only the opposition will be at a disadvantage," he said.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting speech at the members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Park further stated, "The approach of former President Yoon Sukyeol and President Lee toward the opposition is completely different. Former President Yoon tangled up a perfectly fine skein of thread, while President Lee is working to untangle the mess. If you emulate Yoon Sukyeol's politics, you will fail. Do not try to become a fake Yoon Sukyeol."

He also pointed out, "Upon taking office, Leader Jang declared that he would do everything possible to bring down President Lee. Did President Lee commit treason or stage a coup? Why are you trying to bring him down?" He continued, "Politics is about dialogue and communication, so accept President Lee's proposal for a meeting, and instead, remove former President Yoon from the People Power Party. Only then will history and the people forgive the party for its past, and both the People Power Party and Leader Jang Donghyuk will survive."

President Lee, upon returning to Korea in the early morning of the 28th after visits to the United States and Japan, immediately instructed that a meeting with Jang Donghyuk, the new leader of the People Power Party, be arranged. Kang Yoojung, spokesperson for the presidential office, announced on the same day, "After arriving in Seoul today, President Lee immediately instructed Senior Secretary Woo Sangho to promptly arrange a meeting with Leader Jang." Previously, Senior Secretary Woo Sangho had also conveyed President Lee's invitation during a courtesy visit to Leader Jang on the 27th.

On the 28th, after a meeting with senior lawmakers, Leader Jang met with reporters and, when asked whether he would accept President Lee's proposal for a meeting, said, "I have not yet received an official proposal. If a formal invitation is made, I will consider it at that time." He added, "If the so-called summit meeting is just a gathering where several people sit down for a meal and exchange pleasantries, I do not consider that a true summit meeting. The format and agenda are the most important. If an official proposal is made, we will discuss what format and agenda the meeting should have, and only then decide whether to participate in the summit meeting."

He also emphasized, "If this is to be a summit meeting with the leader of the main opposition party, there must be a clear format and procedure. I believe a summit meeting only has meaning if there is at least some willingness to accept the proposals made by the opposition."