Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Yoon-PPP leadership meeting reveals deepening divisions within ruling party
President Yoon Suk Yeol walks with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Han Dong-hoon, left, and PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, right, after their dinner meeting at a garden in front of the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of presidential office
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Party leaders divided over who is to blame for 'fruitless' dinner
President Yoon Suk Yeol's dinner with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) leadership ended without a one-on-one meeting with PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, thereby hinting at the possibility of a growing rift in the ruling party.
Han had requested a private session with Yoon on the sidelines of the dinner meeting to discuss pressing issues, such as the impasse over the current medical reform by the government and controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee, but the presidential office rejected it, saying that separate coordination is needed to arrange such a meeting. Han reportedly expressed his desire again to have a private conversation with Yoon at a later date.
Tensions have risen after Han, once considered one of Yoon's close confidants during their time as prosecutors, diverged from Yoon on medical reform plans by calling for a delay in the 2026 medical school quota hike to help resolve the impasse between the government and groups representing doctors. Controversies surrounding the first lady, including allegations of stock manipulation and graft involving a luxury handbag, have also caused problems.
Last week, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) unilaterally passed a bill for a special counsel investigation into the allegation of stock price manipulation involving the first lady, her acceptance of a Dior handbag and her alleged interference in candidate nominations concerning the ruling party.
Leaders of the PPP were split on who should be held responsible for the fruitless dinner gathering. Many expressed frustrations that no discussion took place on sensitive political issues, including conflicts over medical reforms and special counsel bills targeting the first lady, during the closed-door meeting that lasted an hour and a half.
Kim Chong-hyuk, a member of the party's Supreme Council and close aide to Han, expressed regret that Han was denied a chance to speak during the meeting.
"Han arrived at the dinner place earlier than expected hoping that President Yoon would offer a private word with him. But that was wishful thinking. There was no opportunity to give a toast speech or open up a discussion about sensitive state affairs. It appears that the presidential office and the party have different perceptions about conflict on medical reform," Kim said in a CBS radio interview.
Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, considered part of the pro-Han faction within the PPP, said the dinner meeting was held outdoors with a lot of attendees. "It wasn't a favorable atmosphere for in-depth discussions, so it's regrettable that a Yoon-Han private meeting wasn't held," Jang said in a SBS radio interview.
Rep. Park Ju-min, fifth from left, speaks in a press briefing at the National Assembly, Monday, urging the presidential office and the ruling People Power Party to discuss ways to resolve the medical crisis during their dinner meeting on Tuesday. Yonhap
On the other hand, Kim Jae-won, member of the party’s Supreme Council, accused Han of failing to bring up pressing issues at the dinner.
“Han had ample opportunities to talk about anything he wanted. The dinner meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere. Nobody prevented him from speaking his mind. I think Han thought to himself that it’s better not to talk about it,” Kim said in a MBC radio interview.
The DPK criticized Yoon and the PPP for neglecting their responsibilities and failing to understand the gravity of the situation.
“President Yoon and the ruling party should be ashamed of avoiding pressing issues and instead focusing only on the leadership battle. This is why Yoon’s government is losing public trust. Han should take responsibility for leaving the dinner meeting empty-handed and take a more proactive attitude in resolving the medical crisis,” Rep. Han Min-soo, spokesperson for the DPK said.
Political analysts advised Yoon to meet with Han separately to discuss forming a four-way consultative body comprising the government, major parties, the medical community and resolving the first lady's issues.
“Han’s position within the party has definitely weakened and he needs a critical turning point to strengthen his grip over the party. Yoon needs to help Han rethink his exit strategy regarding the medical crisis because trainee doctors hold the key to resolving the impasse between the government and the medical community,” said Park Sang-byeong, a political commentator.
“Yoon’s term ends in three years, so he should focus only on state affairs while transferring power to Han if he wants to restore public trust in PPP,” Park added.