Yoon, PPP to seek opposition help for passing bills on budget, livelihoods

Rep. Yoon Jae-ok, center, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) will ask the main opposition party for its cooperation to ensure a prompt passing of bills related to people's livelihoods, a senior PPP official said Tuesday.

Yoon had a luncheon in his office with the leadership group of the PPP on Tuesday, with its chairman Kim Gi-hyeon, floor leader Yoon Jae-ok, chief policymaker Yoo Ui-dong and secretary-general Lee Man-hee in attendance. From the presidential office, some of Yoon's new secretaries, including chief of staff Kim Dae-ki and political affairs secretary Han O-sub, were on hand.

In a media briefing after the two-hour meeting, Lee said Yoon and the PPP leaders agreed to strengthen the communication flow between the presidential office and the ruling party on areas covering policymaking and budget.

In particular, Yoon and the party leaders said they will seek help from the opposition Democratic Party in the handling of bills on the budget for 2024 and those associated with people's livelihoods, Lee added. According to Lee, the president and the PPP leaders are mindful of financial challenges that ordinary people face today.

Noting the occasion of Trade Day that fell on Tuesday, Yoon also called on the ruling party officials to provide support for South Korean exporters and help abolish regulations that hold them back, according to Lee.

Per Lee, the participants also discussed enacting "Special Act on Global International Hub City" for Busan. Designed to develop the southeastern metropolitan city into an economic, cultural and educational center, the bill had been in the works during Busan's failed bid for the 2030 World Expo and will include the loosening of regulations in the city.

In a separate meeting with reporters, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon said issues concerning the party's operations, including nominations for next year's general elections, were not discussed.

"This was not an occasion for such topics. It was just a luncheon," Kim added.

It was the first meeting between Yoon and PPP leaders since Oct. 18, held in light of the PPP's loss in a crucial by-election for the chief of the Gangseo Ward in western Seoul. (Yonhap)