President Yoon to Hold First Meeting with Ruling and Opposition Party Leaders Around the 16th

[Asia Economy Reporters Kwon Hyun-ji and Oh Ju-yeon] It has been confirmed that President Yoon Seok-yeol is planning to hold a meeting with the leadership of both ruling and opposition parties early next week. The date being discussed is the 16th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th, a ruling party official told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "It seems that President Yoon will meet with the leaders of the three major parties on the 16th when he visits the National Assembly for the supplementary budget speech."

An opposition party official also said in a phone interview, "Currently, the date for the meeting seems to be around next Monday," adding, "The Presidential Office contacted us to meet with the leaders of both ruling and opposition parties sometime next week, and the working-level staff are currently coordinating the details."

If this meeting takes place, it is expected that President Yoon will request the National Assembly to process the supplementary budget bill for compensation of losses for small business owners and self-employed individuals, which was submitted on that day, within the May extraordinary session.

Additionally, President Yoon is likely to mention cooperation regarding the approval of Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo, which he has prioritized as the first agenda item, as well as cooperation on ministerial nominees whose confirmation reports have been delayed by the Democratic Party, which has labeled them as top candidates for rejection.

The Democratic Party maintains its opposition to Prime Minister nominee Han, stating, "We cannot approve him just because he is the inaugural prime minister," and is strongly opposing the appointments of Health and Welfare Minister nominee Jeong Ho-young and Justice Minister nominee Han Dong-hoon, causing setbacks in the formation of President Yoon’s inaugural cabinet.

The People Power Party insists that the confirmation vote must be completed before the plenary session scheduled for the 16th, when the government’s policy speech is planned. Therefore, it is anticipated that President Yoon will ask the leadership of the three major parties for cooperation on this matter during the meeting.

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