Yoon Practices 'Yeongsu Talks' Distancing... Focuses on Livelihood Economy

Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party Leader, Proposes Summit Meeting
Presidential Office Maintains No-Response Policy
Leading State Affairs with Focus on Livelihood Issues

The Presidential Office has maintained a non-response stance to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding his request for a summit meeting, effectively signaling a refusal. Rather than escalating the situation with a political response, the office appears to be focusing its efforts on economic revitalization and stabilizing people’s livelihoods, which is interpreted as an intention not to relinquish control of the political landscape following the dismissal of the arrest warrant against Lee.

According to the Presidential Office on the 4th, President Yoon and his aides have decided not to respond directly to Lee and the Democratic Party’s demand for a 'livelihood summit meeting.' A Presidential Office official refrained from commenting on the summit meeting when asked by reporters, stating, "There is nothing special to say."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Since President Yoon’s inauguration last August, the office has rejected eight requests for summit meetings, dismissing the term as "something used only when the president was the ruling party leader," and stating that the opposition party leader’s negotiation partner should be the ruling party leader. This also reflects the unwillingness to cooperate with Lee, who advocates for cash support contrary to the government’s fiscal austerity policy.

In particular, as there are views within the ruling party that Lee’s request for a summit meeting is politically motivated rather than aimed at cooperation for the people’s livelihood, the office seems cautious about responding to his demand. After the prosecution’s arrest warrant for Lee was dismissed, the opposition has been pressuring the government, and Lee’s use of the summit meeting card is seen as a political strategy to seize control of state affairs.

The Presidential Office’s position is to focus on livelihood, economic revitalization, and strengthening security rather than responding to the political situation in Yeouido. During the recent Chuseok holiday, President Yoon visited the frontline of import-export operations at Incheon International Airport’s cargo terminal and also visited police, fire, and military units responsible for public safety and security. The office has also expressed its intention to concentrate on government measures to stimulate the economy.

In a briefing the previous day, spokesperson Lee Do-woon emphasized, "We will operate state affairs focusing on economic revitalization such as exports and investment in the fourth quarter of this year, stabilization of people’s livelihoods, and strengthening diplomacy and security," adding, "The government plans to provide all possible support to ensure exports continue to recover until the end of the year."

There are also plans to follow up on investments from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within this month. During Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Korea in November last year, President Yoon secured investment commitments worth around 40 trillion won, and in January this year, during a state visit to the UAE, a $30 billion investment agreement was signed. Additionally, during upcoming state visits to the United Kingdom in November and the Netherlands in December, President Yoon plans to actively engage in sales diplomacy to boost exports and orders.

Alongside this, the Presidential Office plans to prepare for the rush of candidates running in the April 10 National Assembly general election. To minimize personnel gaps, the office has confirmed the intentions of aides regarding their candidacy, and some departments are conducting personnel screenings for successors to those resigning. At the administrative officer level, former officers Lee Seung-hwan (Seoul Jungnang-eul), Lee Dong-seok (Chungbuk Chungju), and Choi Ji-woo (Chungbuk Jecheon) have already resigned to run, and administrative officer Kim In-gyu will resign on the 5th. Inside and outside the Presidential Office, it is expected that senior aides at the secretary level and above will resign to run in the general election following the National Assembly audit.

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