People Power Party: "Not the Right Situation to Attend Gyeongju Dinner"
Decision Reflects Consideration of Issues Like Special Prosecutor's Investigation into Chu Kyung-ho
On October 31, the day the main session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju opens, the People Power Party decided not to attend the welcome dinner, which will be held with leaders and businesspeople from various countries. This move is seen as an attempt by the People Power Party, which has maintained a confrontational stance against the Lee Jaemyung administration and is currently in conflict with the ruling party over issues such as the special prosecutor's investigation into former floor leader Chu Kyung-ho, to avoid weakening its momentum in its struggle against the administration.
Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, and Song Unseok, floor leader, are talking while waiting for Choo Kyungho, former floor leader, who is under investigation by the special prosecutor, in front of the Special Prosecutor's Office for Internal Affairs in Seocho-gu, Seoul on October 31, 2025.
The APEC Summit welcome dinner will be held at 6 p.m. on this day at the Grand Ballroom of the Lahan Select Hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. President Lee Jaemyung has invited APEC member economy leaders, businesspeople, and other distinguished guests to the event. The dinner is expected to serve as an opportunity for informal diplomacy, with free discussions on expanding economic exchanges and ensuring the successful hosting of the summit.
The welcome dinner will be attended by Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea; Kim Byungki, floor leader; Seo Wangjin, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party; and Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform Party.
The People Power Party leadership will not attend, citing other commitments. Jang Donghyuk, the party leader, is scheduled to attend a closed-door external event in the afternoon. Since he visited Gyeongju on the 4th to check on preparations for the APEC Summit, it was also considered more efficient schedule-wise for him to skip the dinner.
This decision also appears to reflect concerns that the party's aggressive stance against the administration could lose momentum amid ongoing criticism of the Korea-US customs negotiations and the October 15 real estate measures. A party official commented in a phone call, "This is not a situation where attending the Gyeongju welcome dinner is appropriate," declining to elaborate further.
Some interpret the decision as being related to ongoing controversies within and outside the party, such as the overnight investigation of former floor leader Chu Kyung-ho by the special prosecutor for internal affairs and the debate over Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Minhee's daughter's wedding. The party leadership may be trying to avoid drawing attention to external political issues at an event attended by opposition leaders.
Another party official stated, "As the leadership, we have many commitments at the National Assembly and elsewhere, so we cannot go to Gyeongju. There is no obligation to attend. It is more beneficial to stay in Seoul and attend to other matters than to go to Gyeongju just for the dinner."
Kim Do-eup, Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the National Assembly's National Audit Countermeasures Meeting held on October 31, 2025.
The ruling and opposition parties are also locked in a standoff over follow-up measures after the Korea-US customs negotiations. While the Democratic Party is considering passing a special law in addition to the National Assembly ratification process, the People Power Party insists that ratification is essential.
The People Power Party continued its criticism of the government and the ruling party at the National Audit Countermeasures Meeting held at the National Assembly on this day. The meeting proceeded without the party leadership, who were absent to greet former floor leader Chu Kyung-ho as he emerged from a 23-hour special prosecutor's investigation at the Seoul High Court.
Kim Doeup, Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, stated at the meeting, "The Lee Jaemyung administration is once again popping champagne and praising itself over the Korea-US customs negotiations," adding, "If they are hiding unfavorable terms and focusing only on promoting their achievements, this could trigger a complex crisis, shaking exchange rates, interest rates, and investment alike."
Kim Geon, opposition secretary of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, joined in, saying, "'Showcase diplomacy' ultimately erodes trust and undermines the national interest." He further urged, "Even at this stage, the government must transparently disclose in writing the actual agreements reached between Korea and the United States on semiconductor tariffs, market opening, and investment conditions."
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