Jeong Gwang-jae, Spokesperson of the People Power Party. /Courtesy of News1

The People Power Party on the 12th demanded the attendance of President Lee Jae-myung at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, stating that the concerns of the liberal democratic camp must be dispelled, as Lee has not yet decided on attending.

Spokesperson Jeong Kwang-jae noted in a commentary that former President Yoon Seok-youl has been attending the NATO meetings for the past three years, adding that if President Lee skips the meeting, it would fuel misconceptions that Korea's diplomatic course has shifted with the change of administration.

Spokesperson Jeong explained, “Countries that share liberal democratic values with us, such as the United States, Japan, and Europe, have already assessed that whether President Lee attends will serve as a litmus test for Korea's firm commitment to the democratic camp.”

The spokesperson continued, “To dispel these concerns of the liberal democratic camp, President Lee should promptly confirm attendance at the NATO summit and participate in the talks, adding that misguided ideology disguised as pragmatism should not influence foreign policy decisions that might harm national interests.”

Former leader Han Dong-hoon also commented on Facebook, “If we don’t attend the NATO summit, China and Russia will perceive Korea as the ‘weak link’ in the Indo-Pacific security network and will push more aggressively,” urging a prompt confirmation of participation.

Former leader Han stated, “Strategic cooperation with Western countries is a crucial lever in maintaining a balanced relationship with China and Russia. While excessive friction with China and Russia should be avoided, there is no reason to shy away from attending the NATO summit and invite subservience.”

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