Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
President, ruling party leader try to display amicable ties during lunch
President Yoon Suk Yeol shows ruling People Power Party (PPP) interim leader Han Dong-hoon around the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of presidential office
By Nam Hyun-woo
President Yoon Suk Yeol and ruling People Power Party (PPP) interim leader Han Dong-hoon had lunch together on Monday in what seems to be a gesture to address the purported conflict between them over Han's critical stance on controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee and the ruling party leader's public endorsement of specific figures as candidates for April 10 general elections.
According to the presidential office, Yoon, Han and PPP floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok had a luncheon at Yoon's office in Yongsan District, Seoul.
Their meeting continued for longer than two hours in the afternoon as they discussed "ways to alleviate difficulties in the public livelihood," according to the presidential office.
"During the meeting, Yoon said the government and the ruling party should double their efforts to make the public feel the improvements in their livelihoods," senior presidential secretary for public relations Lee Do-woon said in a statement.
Lee said the participants discussed various civil issues, including housing and transportation while expressing their concerns over continuing attacks on politicians. They also agreed to continue negotiations with the opposition over a workplace safety law that has been affecting small- and medium-sized enterprises since the past weekend.
President Yoon Suk Yeol smiles during his luncheon with ruling People Power Party (PPP) interim leader Han Dong-hoon, Yoon's right, at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. Clockwise from Yoon are presidential Chief of Staff Lee Kwan-sup, senior presidential secretary for political affairs Han Oh-seop, senior presidential secretary for public relations Lee Do-woon, PPP floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok and Han. Courtesy of presidential office
The meeting came six days after Yoon and Han met at a traditional market in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province, as part of their inspection of the market, which suffered a fire.
At that time, it was seen as an effort to address their feud to avoid damaging the ruling party's campaign for the general elections but was viewed as a patchwork measure because they reportedly did not talk about the cause of their conflicts.
Earlier this month, the ruling party head revealed that Yoon had requested his resignation from the interim leader position through presidential chief of staff Lee Kwan-sup. Despite this, Han asserted that he has no intention of stepping down.
Reportedly, Yoon expressed concerns on Han's public endorsement of Kim Kyung-yul, a member of the PPP's interim leadership committee, for the Mapo B constituency in Seoul. The president's objection stems from the fact that the party's candidate recommendation rule has not been finalized, and Han's public endorsement of a specific individual could be perceived as "bid rigging."
At the same time, the PPP newcomers' criticism of allegations that the first lady received a Christian Dior handbag from a pastor in 2022 and Han's stance of considering it as "a matter of public concern" was also seen as a point of contention.
President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with ruling People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon during their luncheon at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of presidential office
Against the backdrop, Monday's meeting between Yoon and Han is interpreted as an effort to show that the relations between the president and the ruling party remain intact.
Floor leader Yun told reporters after the luncheon that the participants only discussed matters related to public livelihood, and there were no talks related to political issues, such as controversies surrounding the first lady or the upcoming general elections.