By Na Jeong-ju
President Lee Myung-bak and Democratic Party (DP) Chairman Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu failed to narrow their differences on ratifying a free trade agreement with the United States (KORUS FTA) in talks held Monday at Cheong Wa Dae.
Regarding the trade deal with the U.S., Sohn reiterated his party’s demand for renegotiation. Signed in 2007 and supplemented last December, the agreement has been awaiting approval from the legislatures of the two countries.
President Lee called for active cooperation from opposition parties on the FTA issue “for the sake of the country’s future.” But Sohn accused the accord of having “greatly lost balance,” according to the joint statement.
The President however told Sohn that demanding renegotiations “amounts to saying that we don’t want” the agreement, calling on the opposition leader to exercise his leadership to ratify the agreement, according to senior presidential spokesman Kim Du-woo.
During a two-hour breakfast meeting, Lee and Sohn exchanged views on six key subjects, including the FTA and the controversy over college tuition.
The others are growing household debt, default risks at local savings banks, job creation and a DP proposal to create a supplementary budget for this year.
The two shared the view that college tuition fees should be cut and college restructuring is needed, but differed on the details.
They agreed to continue dialogue to narrow differences over how to resolve such educational issues, but an agreement appears to be unlikely at the moment amid a deepening row between rival parties over how much tuition should be cut, and when as well as how to cover the costs.
Sohn, the leading opposition candidate for the next presidency, proposed that the tuition be cut by half beginning next year. However, Lee reacted negatively, saying the matter of reducing tuition should be dealt with more cautiously considering budget spending plans and the financial state of universities, Lee’s aides said. The President also was negative on the opposition’s demand for a supplementary budget.
But they agreed to work in a bipartisan manner to tackle household debt and corruption at savings banks. The two leaders also agreed to work closely together to create as many jobs as possible and narrow the gap between regular and contract workers, the statement said.
The Lee-Sohn meeting marked the first of its kind since September 2008 when Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, then leader of the main opposition DP, met President Lee.
“Both sides found common ground on some issues, but remained poles apart on others. We hope talks with liberals will continue to find solutions to contentious issues,” senior presidential secretary for public relations Kim Du-woo told reporters.
“The door of dialogue has been opened. The important first steps have been taken.”
In a separate media briefing at the National Assembly, DP spokesman Rep. Lee Yong-seop said the meeting was a good opportunity to deliver the wishes of the people for a change of government policies for the good of ordinary citizens and the underprivileged.
“In that sense, the talks were very successful. Sohn spoke about difficulties facing them seriously and Lee listened carefully,” the spokesman said.
Such positive evaluations of the talks raise hopes for a turnaround in the political stalemate. Some analysts, however, cautioned that populist policies could sweep the political circle as parties are gearing up for next year’s general elections and presidential race.