President Lee To Hold Luncheon Meeting With Jung Cheongrae And Jang Donghyuk On The 12th...To Discuss Bipartisan Cooperation Measures

Briefing by Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik
"Candid exchange on overall state affairs with no restrictions on the agenda"
On controversy over the Democratic Party’s recommendation for the second special prosecutor: "President Lee has never been enraged"
On collapse of merger between the Democratic Party and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party: "A matter for the two parties to decide"

President Lee Jaemyung will invite Democratic Party leader Jung Cheongrae and People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk to the Blue House for a luncheon meeting on the 12th. At this meeting, a wide range of agenda items are expected to be discussed, including issues related to negotiations with the United States on tariffs and security, the won-dollar exchange rate, and administrative integration. There is also interest in whether they will address the introduction of three major special prosecutors, including the opposition’s long-standing demand for the government to drop its appeal in the Daejang-dong case, as well as the so-called Democratic Party-Unification Church gate and alleged bribery related to Democratic Party nominations.

Yonhap News Agency

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik held a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center at the Blue House on the 11th and said, "President Lee will invite the leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties to the Blue House tomorrow for a meeting over lunch," adding, "This meeting is intended to discuss ways for bipartisan cooperation to restore people’s livelihoods and stabilize state affairs."

Kang continued, "There will be no restrictions on the agenda, and we plan to have a candid exchange of views on overall state affairs," and added, "President Lee is expected to call for responsible cooperation from the ruling party and the main opposition party in order to bring about tangible changes that the public can truly feel."

He went on to say, "With the new year, we hope this will serve as a starting point to give hope to the people through communication and cooperation," adding, "The Blue House will continue to communicate with the leadership of both the ruling and opposition parties, and together with the people, we will open the path to a great leap forward for the Republic of Korea based on unity and trust."

Regarding reports that President Lee was enraged by the Democratic Party’s recommendation of attorney Jeon Jooncheol as the second special prosecutor for the comprehensive investigation, he said, "Some reports have come out, and we are also quite taken aback," and added, "He is not the type who easily flies into a rage, and he has never been enraged."

Concerning reports that the Blue House senior presidential secretary for civil affairs delivered negative opinions twice to Assemblyman Lee Sungyun, who recommended the second special prosecutor, he said, "Given the nature of presidential personnel matters, it is not easy to explain each and every factual detail," and explained, "As a rule, after we are notified of recommended candidates, we proceed with all the procedures and then provide explanations."

Regarding the collapse of merger talks between the Democratic Party and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, Kang said, "This is a matter for the two parties to decide, and the Blue House does not have a separate position on those discussions." Even so, he added, "President Lee has long held a consistent philosophy on integration. It is an old, well-known philosophy, and all of his aides have been aware of it."

As for the fact that, in the National Assembly, including within the Democratic Party, people had been referring to the supposed intentions of the Blue House, he said, "President Lee and his aides are already overwhelmed with reviving the economy, protecting people’s livelihoods, and dealing with diplomacy, as well as the real estate issues and stock market issues that President Lee talks about every day," and continued, "I would like to take this opportunity to respectfully ask that you exercise caution when speaking about the intentions of the Blue House and the President."