Kim Jong-in 'Conditionally' Accepts Blue House Talks...Will He Secure a Promise for Cooperation?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Blue House and Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the Future United Party, who had been engaged in a truth game dispute over the authenticity of the 'Yeongsu Meeting,' reached an agreement on a 'conditional meeting' within a day. However, it seems that the meeting will only take place if the Blue House presents meaningful outcomes regarding the 'specific agenda' condition proposed by Chairman Kim, raising interest in the agenda.

On the 19th, a Future United Party official said regarding the meeting conditions proposed by Chairman Kim, "If we feel the sincerity that politics is for the people, not for themselves, we will consider (whether to hold the meeting)." The official added, "They are saying not to just talk about cooperation but to show sincerity," and criticized, "So far, the Blue House has responded to the opposition's demands for cooperation by monopolizing the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the parliament."

Until the 17th, the Blue House and the opposition party, who had been shifting responsibility for the failed meeting, are now expressing their willingness to hold the meeting, even if conditionally. On the 18th, Chairman Kim drew a line by saying in a media interview, "I will not go to the Blue House just to eat," and set conditions for the meeting such as ▲specific agenda ▲one-on-one meeting ▲existence of outcomes. The Blue House also responded on the same day, calling it "a very fortunate matter" and saying, "Let's frankly discuss the form and content."

The Future United Party's position seems to mean that the Blue House must bring some concrete outcomes regarding cooperation to agree to the meeting. 'Sincere cooperation' and preventing the ruling of the large opposition party have been demands that the Future United Party and Chairman Kim have made to the government and ruling party so far. On the 18th, at the 11th anniversary memorial service for former President Kim Dae-jung, Chairman Kim said, "Integration and harmony are possible when each party has a humble attitude toward each other," and added, "I think integration and harmony are impossible unless an atmosphere is created where power is restrained with humility, not just exercised because it is too strong."

If this one-on-one meeting takes place, it will be the first in two years since the solo meeting with Hong Joon-pyo, then leader of the Liberty Korea Party, in April 2018. However, the Blue House plans to consider the positions of other parties as well, so whether the one-on-one meeting will be realized is uncertain. Former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn also requested one-on-one Yeongsu meetings several times, but a solo meeting has never been held.

The meeting is expected to broadly discuss bipartisan cooperation on the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and livelihood-related issues such as the 4th supplementary budget. Amid declining support for the government and ruling party, both the Blue House, which urgently needs cooperation with the opposition due to the COVID-19 resurgence, and the opposition party, which has failed to produce significant outcomes in the National Assembly due to being overshadowed by the large ruling party, are in urgent need of the meeting.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.