Calls for unity, but divides remain: President Lee's 1st meeting with ruling and opposition leaders

President Lee Jae-myung (2nd from right) poses for a commemorative photo with ruling and opposition party leaders before a luncheon meeting at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on June 22. From left, Song Eon-seog, floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), Kim Yong-tae, interim leader of the PPP, and Kim Byung-kee, acting leader and new floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. / Presidential office photo press corps

On June 22, his 19th day in office, President Lee Jae-myung took his first step toward bipartisan governance by holding a luncheon meeting with ruling and opposition party leaders. By inviting only the leadership of the main opposition party, Lee appeared to signal his intent for substantive dialogue. However, disagreements emerged over the confirmation of Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok and the formation of the National Assembly’s standing committees.

During the luncheon held at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, President Lee met with Kim Yong-tae, interim leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), Song Eon-seog, newly elected floor leader of the PPP, and Kim Byung-kee, acting leader and new floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). “Some have suggested meeting with all opposition parties at once,” President Lee said, “but I thought it would be more productive to have focused discussions, so I asked to meet you separately as soon as possible.” He added, “I appreciate you making the time to be here despite your busy schedules. Please feel free to speak openly, whether publicly or privately.”

Lee expressed his willingness to engage with the opposition on key domestic and international issues, including diplomacy and the economy. “It would be good to review the country’s economic situation and the underlying national security and diplomatic issues together,” he said. “Diplomatic issues are ones that require a unified national stance beyond party lines,” he continued. “I hope we can continue coordinating our positions on foreign affairs and respond jointly.”

Regarding the supplementary budget, which he has called for swift passage, President Lee acknowledged differing views. “I understand there are many different opinions. That doesn’t necessarily mean one side is right. We should strive to find common ground and work together to overcome these difficult times as quickly as possible,” he said.

Lee also proposed bipartisan cooperation on policies that were shared campaign pledges. Woo Sang-ho, presidential secretary for political affairs, said, “President Lee noted that implementing overlapping campaign promises from the presidential election could proceed without dispute.”

Despite the cooperative tone, clear differences remained on the confirmation of Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok and the composition of the National Assembly’s standing committees. The opposition leaders pointed to various allegations against Kim and his attitude during the confirmation hearing, urging the president to reconsider the nomination. Song said, “Please think carefully about whether appointing someone who shows disdain for the National Assembly will truly help the success of the Lee administration.” Lee responded that it would be best to “wait for the nominee to clarify things during the hearing,” suggesting he would not withdraw the nomination.

On the issue of revising the Confirmation Hearing Act, raised by the ruling party, Lee expressed agreement. According to Woo, Lee said he sympathized with Kim Byung-kee’s view that “qualified candidates are increasingly reluctant to serve in government because even their family backgrounds become targets.” Kim argued, “The hearing process itself has fundamental problems. A more appropriate system is needed for vetting candidates.”

Differences also surfaced regarding the formation of the National Assembly’s standing committees. Song noted that under the current arrangement, the DPK controls the powerful Legislation and Judiciary Committee, an arrangement that originated when Lee was party leader. “You should take responsibility for that decision and revisit it,” Song said. “Traditionally, the second-largest party has chaired the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to maintain checks and balances in line with democratic principles.” Lee reportedly responded, “That’s a matter for the parties to negotiate within the National Assembly.”

The opposition also raised concerns about proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act and the Public Official Election Act, which are related to Lee’s ongoing legal proceedings. Kim Yong-tae stressed, “Judicial independence is a core pillar of a democratic republic,” and suggested, “If President Lee promises to face trial after his term, it would go a long way in reaffirming the spirit of the Constitution to the people.”

In response to the opposition’s criticism, the ruling party pushed back, saying the PPP should reflect first. Kim Byung-kee countered, “I’m sorry, but the PPP should start with self-reflection. As the party that produced former President Yoon Suk-yeol, you need to show genuine remorse before speaking of bipartisan cooperation.”

Observers say that the confirmation of Kim Min-seok and the formation of the National Assembly’s committees will serve as key tests for future bipartisan cooperation. After the luncheon, Song said, “Dialogue is about action, not words. We’ll be watching how the president handles Kim’s nomination and responds to our stance on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.” He added, “If the administration tries to monopolize both legislative and executive power without compromise, the public will rightly see this luncheon as a mere political performance.”

The ruling party hailed the meeting as a meaningful first step. Park Sang-hyuk, the DPK’s chief secretary for floor communication, said, “It took just 18 days after the presidential election for ruling and opposition leaders to meet. Considering it took the previous administration 720 days to do the same, this is highly significant.”

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