Lee Jae-myung "Eat with friends... Let's have a policy discussion" ... Kim Ki-hyun "TV debate proposal" (Summary)

Lee "Opposition Party Seems to Refuse Dialogue, Regrettable Media Play"
Kim "Actively Welcome Representative Lee's Proposal for Policy Debate"

Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, once again proposed a 1-on-1 meeting in the form of a TV debate to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. This was a response to Lee’s rejection of Kim’s meal invitation and his statement that he would only engage in policy dialogue.

On the 26th, Kim issued a statement through the People Power Party’s public relations office, saying, "I warmly welcome Lee’s proposal to hold a public policy debate."

In the statement, he suggested, "The most effective way to conduct a policy debate would be a TV debate," and proposed, "Let the party leaders hold a public TV debate on policy-related topics." He added, "There is a need for the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to come together and have an open and frank discussion about the direction of national governance," and continued, "Dialogue and compromise are achieved through various forms of public and private meetings. Let the two party leaders create an open and honest atmosphere through a 1-on-1 meeting."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This was a reply to Lee’s remarks earlier that day during the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, where he told Kim, "Have meals and drinks with your friends," and said, "Let’s have a policy dialogue."

At the meeting, Lee said, "The economy is difficult, people’s livelihoods are tough, security is in crisis, and diplomacy is even more serious," adding, "In such circumstances, what’s the point of politicians, who have been entrusted with the lives of our people and the future of the country, meeting just for show?passing around soju glasses and eating meals?"

He continued, "Having meals and drinks is fine, but rather than that, let’s have a public policy dialogue about the livelihoods of our people, discuss how to create better lives for them and a better future for Korea, through debate, discussion, or dialogue. But that was rejected," he said. Lee also expressed regret, saying, "Then suddenly at an event, there was a suggestion to have a glass of soju, and it was disappointing that the opposition party played to the media as if they had refused dialogue."

On the afternoon of the 23rd, at the memorial ceremony for the 14th anniversary of the late President Roh Moo-hyun's passing held in Bongha Village, Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam, Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party (right), and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are laying flowers.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee’s remarks were a rebuttal to Kim’s statement the previous day at the National Assembly, where Kim said in response to a question about whether he had proposed meeting Lee every two weeks since taking office as party leader, "I tried to, but there was no response from Lee’s side."

Kim said the day before, "A few days ago at the memorial service for former President Roh Moo-hyun, I sat next to him and said, ‘Let’s see each other once. Let’s have a meal or a glass of soju,’ but he said, ‘The people don’t like it if we just eat.’" Kim added, "The two party leaders meeting just to eat is something the people don’t like, but I don’t understand that. When we meet, various talks come up, and if necessary, we have concrete discussions, so I suggested at least having a meal and talking, but there was no answer." Kim’s side explained that since taking office in March, they had proposed several times to Lee for meals or meetings at various events, but Lee had refused.

In response, the Democratic Party informed reporters that the People Power Party’s leader’s office proposed a meeting between the ruling and opposition party leaders to the Democratic Party leader’s office around 6 p.m. on the 2nd. The Democratic Party stated, "The leader’s office replied with the intention of holding an effective public policy meeting to set current agenda items and discuss bipartisan cooperation and people’s livelihoods, rather than a simple meal, but the ruling party maintained the position of just having a casual meal, so no progress was made." Regarding Kim’s claim that the meal invitation was rejected at the former President Roh’s memorial service, they emphasized, "Lee reiterated his existing position to have policy dialogue rather than a showy meal meeting."

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