Ruling and opposition leaders end meeting with empty handed

The People’s Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon (left) and the Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung, shake hands before a meeting at the National Assembly on September 1. Reporter Sung Dong-hoon

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) agreed to run a consultative organization to promote the two parties' common pledges on people’s livelihoods during a meeting on September 1. However, they only confirmed their differences on a bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae Su-geun, a response to the medical crisis, the act on supporting 250,000 won for all citizens, and the financial investment income tax, and failed to reach a concrete agreement. In effect, it is evaluated as an “empty-handed” meeting.

Han and Lee met for about 136 minutes from 2 p.m. on the day in the National Assembly, including time for opening remarks. It was the first time under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration that the leaders of the PPP and the DPK held an official meeting with an agenda.

Kwak Kyu-taek, the chief spokesperson for the PPP, and Cho Seung-rae, the counterpart of the DPK, released a “joint statement” consisting of eight items after the talk ended. The two parties agreed to discuss ways to support the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) industries, establish a consultative organization to promote policies on people’s livelihoods, and expedite legislative tasks for measures against the country’s low birth rate, such as expanding parental leave. The statement also included plans to take measures against deep-fake sex crimes and reintroduce district party chapters.

However, they only confirmed a difference of opinion on promoting the special counsel investigation bill. In his opening remarks, Lee pressed Han to "make a decision now" regarding the third-party special investigation bill suggested by Han. “We can't do it in line with the DPK's schedule. We are continuing to discuss it within the party,” Han said during the meeting.

Regarding the medical crisis, the two parties said they “called on the government to do its utmost to build an emergency medical system for the Chuseok holidays and agreed to discuss measures at the National Assembly level,” but failed to come up with specific countermeasures.

There was no consensus on Lee's key pledge, the act on supporting 250,000 won for all citizens, as Han insisted in his opening remarks that it was a “cash-spreading measure.”

The leaders also failed to reach a conclusion on the financial investment income tax, which is scheduled to be introduced in January next year. Han called for its immediate abolition, while Lee argued that it should be accompanied by policies to revive the stock market, such as revising the commercial law to protect shareholders. The two parties agreed to “comprehensively review and discuss measures to revitalize the stock market.” Han's proposal to regularize a talk between the two leaders was rejected.

A senior official at the presidential office said, “We hope the meeting will be an opportunity to normalize the National Assembly.”

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.