President Lee Jae-myung invited the leaders of both ruling and opposition parties to the presidential residence for a luncheon meeting lasting 1 hour and 40 minutes on the 22nd, marking the first such gathering since his inauguration. Participants reported that there was a candid conversation throughout the meeting regarding major issues, including diplomatic achievements, the Prime Minister's confirmation hearing, and the distribution of National Assembly standing committee chairs.
The meeting took place from 12 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul. During his opening remarks, President Lee stated, "I received warm hospitality and sincere discussions from various leaders at the Group of Seven (G7) summit," and particularly appreciated the Japanese Prime Minister's direct attendance at the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations. In response, the leaders of both parties expressed their agreement on the diplomatic achievements.
President Lee suggested, "Diplomatic issues should be addressed collectively, without regard to political parties, and let's coordinate our positions on foreign issues moving forward."
In a closed conversation, opposition leaders pointed out significant issues regarding the verification of Prime Minister candidate Kim Min-seok. The floor leader, Song, noted that Kim has been avoiding the submission of relevant documents while attending events accompanied by Vice Ministers after receiving briefings from government ministries, expressing concern that this behavior could be seen by the public as arrogant, blatantly disregarding the National Assembly's hearing and confirmation processes.
In response, President Lee said, "It is desirable to observe the hearing process and hear his explanations." He also expressed agreement with the opinion of Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Kim Byung-ki, who stated that improvements in systems, such as amendments to the confirmation hearing law, are necessary, and mentioned that the atmosphere of scrutinizing even family backgrounds may deter capable individuals from public office.
Regarding the allocation of committee chairs, the opposition emphasized that "the principle of checks and balances among the negotiating groups in the National Assembly must be upheld," to which President Lee responded, "This is a matter for the ruling and opposition parties to negotiate well in the National Assembly."
Regarding the supplementary budget that the government is pushing forward, floor leader Kim urged the People Power Party to provide "active cooperation." Conversely, Kim Yong-tae, the chairperson, stated, "Consumer coupons, regional gift certificates, and debt relief account for about 60% of the supplementary budget. In particular, the 1.1 trillion won in debt relief could create a sense of deprivation for diligent debt payers and could encourage avoidance of debt repayment, so let's discuss a more just and creative solution together across party lines."
President Lee mentioned, "This time, we need to execute the supplementary budget plan, and it's natural for there to be differing opinions on policy," adding, "I will listen to the opinions thoroughly, make adjustments where needed, and move as quickly as possible on the parts we can agree on."
President Lee suggested, "There must be common areas in the pledges of both candidates during the election period that can be implemented without disagreement," saying, "Let's find an agenda that we can work together on for political restoration and national unity." The leaders of both parties positively responded, saying, "We will review the common pledges."
The luncheon was held at a round table in the residence. The menu featured noodles. Cheong-woo Suh, the chief of staff, conveyed the atmosphere, saying, "Everyone laughed lightly at the comment that the variety of noodle colors could be interpreted as a symbol of unity." He also added, "The conversation continued alongside the meal, creating an atmosphere that was candid and smooth rather than formal."