Ruling Party Leadership Meets with New Senior Presidential Secretary Hong Ikpyo: "Unified Party-Government Team"

Jeong Cheongrae: "My closest confidant and the best possible choice"
Han Byungdo: "Let's achieve results for the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration"
Hong Ikpyo: "I will deliver voices from the field to Lee without distortion"

On January 21, Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, warmly welcomed Hong Ikpyo, the newly appointed Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, who paid a courtesy visit to the National Assembly, saying, "He is my absolute best friend, my closest confidant," and described him as "the best possible choice for Senior Secretary for Political Affairs."

That afternoon at the National Assembly, Leader Jeong met with Senior Secretary Hong and said, "I believe you will play the most effective role in building a unified team between the party and the administration, given your political acumen, policy expertise, and sense of balance."

Yonhap News Agency

Leader Jeong recalled, "During the 21st National Assembly, when the motion to arrest then-party leader Lee Jaemyung was passed, causing turmoil and anger among party members and confusion among lawmakers, I thought Assemblyman Hong was the right person to serve as floor leader and restore order."

He went on to mention that Senior Secretary Hong, ahead of the 22nd general election, moved his constituency from Seongdong in Seoul-where he had been elected three consecutive times-to Seocho, saying, "By choosing not to take the easy path and instead setting a self-sacrificing example in Seocho, you have become a great role model for lawmakers and party members alike."

He also said, "(Senior Secretary Hong) understands the President's philosophy of governance intuitively, even without formal study, so he can be put to work immediately without any need for training. I am grateful to the President for appointing a Senior Secretary who is ready to go right away."

Senior Secretary Hong responded to Leader Jeong, "This place does not feel unfamiliar; it feels like returning to my family home," and added, "If Lee Jaemyung began the era of party member sovereignty, it is Leader Jeong who will bring it to full bloom." He further praised Leader Jeong as "the ideal party leader to usher in the era of party member sovereignty."

Senior Secretary Hong stressed the importance of pushing forward with reform initiatives, saying, "Within the President's five-year term, the window to plan and implement reform tasks is within the first three years."

Regarding the conflict between pro-Lee Jaemyung and pro-Jeong Cheongrae factions, he said, "I don't think the frames of 'pro-Lee' and 'pro-Jeong' are accurate. When I was floor leader, I was labeled 'pro-Lee,' but now that I am Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, I am called 'anti-Lee.' It made me wonder about my own identity." He added, "I believe the fundamental attitude for both lawmakers and Blue House officials should be to work correctly for the nation and the people."

He continued, "I will serve as a messenger who sincerely conveys the voices from the field to the President without distortion, and ensures that the President's intentions are accurately communicated to the party and the National Assembly, regardless of party affiliation."

Han Byungdo, the floor leader, also praised Senior Secretary Hong, saying, "You have an excellent character and communication skills, and you are widely recognized within the party as a lawmaker with comprehensive abilities. Now that we have joined forces again with the shared goal of ensuring the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration, I hope we can achieve meaningful results."

Floor Leader Han emphasized the importance of legislative integration between Daejeon-Chungnam and Gwangju-Jeonnam, as well as prosecutorial reform, and pledged to expedite the passage of related legislation.

Senior Secretary Hong, referring to Floor Leader Han, who previously served as Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs under the Moon Jaein administration, said, "Since you are my senior in this role, I feel comfortable discussing and communicating with you. If you can build consensus and reach good decisions between the ruling and opposition parties, the Lee Jaemyung administration will, of course, respect the will of the National Assembly to the greatest extent possible."

However, Senior Secretary Hong did not pay a courtesy call to Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, who is currently on a hunger strike. After visiting Floor Leader Han, Senior Secretary Hong told reporters at the National Assembly, "I have to leave immediately today," indicating that he had no plans to meet with Leader Jang. When asked about any plans for a meeting, he replied, "There are no plans in the near future. Nothing has been decided yet."