Kim Byung-min "Kim Ki-hyun, Role in Coordinating President Yoon and Lee Jae-myung Meeting? Public Expectations"

Yeo 최고위원, SBS Radio Interview
"Communication Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Needed in Any Way"
Emphasizes the Need for Meeting Between Party Leaders

Kim Byung-min, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, acknowledged the necessity of a summit meeting between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 23rd, stating, "Strengthening communication with opposition figures, whether they are party leaders or floor leaders, will help resolve various current issues and move toward national unity."

On the 23rd, Kim appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and said, "It is necessary to explore various possibilities," adding, "We need to consider together how to communicate in a way that fits modern democratic society."

Kim said, "The term 'summit meeting' and the fact that the opposition leader holds a one-on-one meeting with the president have been criticized as products of authoritarianism in the past, such as during the Moon Jae-in administration when Floor Leader Hong Ik-pyo was spokesperson," adding, "However, if such confrontations continue endlessly, it will only increase public fatigue, so communication with the opposition must be achieved in some way."

This marks a clear departure from the previous People Power Party stance, which was negative toward summit meetings, arguing that "the opposition leader's counterpart is not the president but the ruling party leader." Last month on the 29th, the People Power Party criticized Lee, who proposed a livelihood summit meeting to President Yoon, calling it "casting pearls before swine" (Kim Ki-hyun, party leader) and a "political intention" (Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader).

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party (left), and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, proposed a livelihood cooperation meeting to Lee. Regarding this, Kim Byung-min emphasized, "If Lee is sincere about livelihood issues, he should naturally meet with the ruling party leader unconditionally to discuss all these matters."

He said, "There are many issues making our lives difficult right now, such as interest rates, prices, and oil prices, which the public is suffering from," adding, "If the ruling and opposition parties show cooperation to solve these problems, it is a responsibility that both Lee and Kim have to fulfill, so I don't think they would avoid it for political reasons."

When the host asked, "What would you do if Lee sets a summit meeting with the president as a condition?" he replied, "First, it is possible to meet with Kim and fully discuss Lee's thoughts."

Kim said, "Through a meeting with Lee, we can discuss the Democratic Party's concerns and, if they want a summit meeting, the reasons behind that desire with Kim, and conveying these matters together can make the relationship between the ruling and opposition parties, as well as between the government and the National Assembly, smoother."

When asked, "If Lee wants a summit meeting with the president after meeting with Kim, can Kim mediate?" he answered, "I think the public expects that level of role and effort," adding, "Since I am not replacing Kim, it is difficult to respond definitively, but it seems there is quite a strong willingness to cooperate and communicate together."

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