Coordination of agenda for summit talks ‘failed’… Lee Jae-myung and Cho Kuk meet

◀ Anchor ▶

The second working-level meeting between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung for a summit meeting ended without the two sides being able to narrow down their differences and a date for the main meeting could not be set.

Representative Lee Jae-myeong had a dinner meeting with Cho Kuk, leader of the National Reform Party, for the first time since the general election yesterday evening.

This is reporter Minhyung Kim.

◀ Report ▶

The second meeting between Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs and Chun Jun-ho, Chief of Staff to the Democratic Party leader, held again after two days, ended in 40 minutes.

Because the agenda was not coordinated, not only the date of the main meeting but also the date of additional working meetings could not be set.

While the President’s Office repeatedly proposed holding a meeting as soon as possible to share diverse opinions without limiting the agenda, the Democratic Party expressed dissatisfaction, saying that the President’s Office did not provide review opinions on the previously presented agendas.

[홍철호/대통령실 정무수석]

“It should be a place where we can freely discuss all matters related to national affairs, including urgent livelihood tasks.”

[천준호/더불어민주당 당대표 비서실장]
“It is regrettable that it would have been nice to have provided a review opinion on the agenda to make the meeting fruitful…”

As the war of nerves between the two sides heats up, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung held his first dinner meeting with Cho Kuk, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, last evening after the general election.

[이재명/더불어민주당 대표]
“We have some things to communicate about the political situation in the future, so we need to talk together.”

Previously, the Democratic Party virtually rejected the ‘pan-opposition joint conference’ that Representative Cho requested from Representative Lee, and also reacted skeptically to the formation of a negotiating group by the Democratic Party of Korea.

At a time when there was speculation that the Democratic Party had turned from cooperation to containment, it was reported that Representative Lee proposed a meeting to dispel such misunderstandings.

After meeting for about two and a half hours, the two parties announced, “The two leaders agreed to meet frequently and talk openly, regardless of the agenda, and agreed to discuss bills and policies at the 22nd National Assembly.”

At the meeting, Representative Lee asked, “I hope that the Democratic Party of Korea will play a leading role in the reform of our society,” and Representative Cho responded, “I hope that the Democratic Party will fulfill its heavy responsibility and role as the ruling party.”

An official from the Democratic Party said, “It seems like they met at the right time without being restricted by the formality,” and an official from the Democratic Party of Korea said, “It was an opportunity where trust was built between the two representatives.”

This is Minhyung Kim from MBC News.

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