Lee Jae-myung and Cho Kuk “We will talk frequently”… drank one bottle of white wine each

Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea and Cho Kuk, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, had a dinner meeting on the 25th. This is the first meeting between the two since the April 10 general elections. The two representatives had dinner for 2 hours and 30 minutes starting at 6:30 pm at a Chinese restaurant near Anguk Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul. It is said that they each drank a bottle of Chinese liquor, Baiju (white wine).

At this meeting, Representative Lee asked, “The Fatherland Innovation Party to play a leading role in the reform of our society,” and Representative Cho said, “I hope that the Democratic Party will fulfill its heavy responsibility and role as the ruling party,” the Democratic Party said. It was interpreted as reaffirming the division of roles between the icebreaker (North Korea Innovation Party) and the main base (Democratic Party) and the relationship between the two parties, which was emphasized at the meeting in March before the general election.

The Democratic Party also announced that the two representatives decided to meet frequently and talk openly, regardless of the agenda. It was decided to discuss the contents of joint bills and policies and the order of processing through the window of Kim Woo-young of the Democratic Party and Cho Yong-woo, political affairs director of the Democratic Party of Korea. It is known that the two representatives had a fairly extensive discussion on the direction of political affairs and cooperation plans between the two parties after the opening of the 22nd National Assembly on this day. When asked by this newspaper whether there were any conversations related to the agenda for the summit meeting, the pan-opposition joint meeting, cooperation on the special prosecution law, and the formation of a joint negotiating group, an opposition party official responded, “Judging by the fact that they had a dinner together for nearly three hours accompanied by strong drinks, there was a more in-depth conversation than that.” “I think so,” he said. Some in the opposition party also observed that the two leaders may have shared some rapport over plans for future presidential elections.

Representative Lee met with reporters before the dinner and said, “I contacted them first.” Regarding the dinner agenda, he said, “It wasn’t something specifically set, but I received help from Professor Cho Kuk during the Seongnam mayoral election.” He continued, “Because our relationship is very long and this election was actually held in separate roles, we have something to communicate about the political situation in the future.” During the 2014 local elections, Representative Cho, who was a professor at Seoul National University, participated in the policy advisory group of Seongnam mayoral candidate Lee Jae-myung. During Representative Lee’s hunger strike in Gwanghwamun, Representative Cho visited to encourage him, and Representative Cho also came to the Gyeonggi Province Governor’s official residence and had a meal there. An opposition party official reported that the drinking session was full of reminiscing about the past, which Representative Lee described as a “very long relationship,” and the two leaders reaffirmed their friendship.

On the 22nd, Representative Cho Kuk asked Representative Lee, “Before meeting President Yoon Seok-yeol, please create and lead a pan-opposition joint meeting.” However, the Democratic Party rejected this, and there is an interpretation that the two representatives decided to hold a surprise meeting as the support base of the two parties became hostile.