Kim Tae-nyeon Says "Don't Set Conditions"... Kim Jong-in Asks, "How Can We Hold Talks Without Justification?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, opposed the demand by Kim Tae-nyeon, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to "not set conditions for the meeting with President Moon," saying, "How can we have a meeting without any justification?"

On the morning of the 20th, at the Emergency Committee meeting held in the National Assembly main building, Kim told reporters, "If the ruling and opposition parties are to meet and negotiate, there must basically be a subject to negotiate about."

He said, "Those people (Democratic Party) are against common sense," and questioned, "There should be a reason presented for why the meeting is held; how can we have a meeting without any justification?"

Earlier, Floor Leader Kim said at the policy coordination meeting that morning, "It is both fortunate and regrettable that Chairman Kim expressed conditional willingness to meet. What matters is the willingness to dialogue, not the form or conditions," and added, "I hope that with Chairman Kim's prompt participation, a meeting between the President and party leaders at the Blue House will be realized."

Regarding a reporter's question about whether contact tracing is necessary due to some former United Future Party lawmakers attending the Liberation Day rally, he pointed out, "The Liberation Day rally has nothing to do with the United Future Party," and said, "It seems the Democratic Party is politically shifting responsibility by using the failure of quarantine measures as an excuse."

He said, "What relation does the Gwanghwamun rally have with the United Future Party? If Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, who led the rally, violated quarantine guidelines, the government should punish Pastor Jeon according to regulations," and added, "I find it hard to understand the childish mindset that tries to link it with the United Future Party."

When criticized that many United Future Party supporters attended the rally, he retorted, "How many United Future Party people actually attended? Only one current lawmaker and a few former lawmakers went individually."

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