[2024 City Policy Speech] Yoon's Handshake Salvo... Beginning and End with Lee Jae-myung

Greeting Lee Jae-myung and Hong Ik-pyo upon entering the main assembly hall
After finishing the speech, virtually requested handshakes from all opposition members
No placards per gentleman's agreement, but Progressive Party was an exception

President Yoon Suk-yeol was seen sharing warm handshakes with lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties at the National Assembly plenary session hall on the 31st, where he delivered the budget speech for the next year. Instead of loud jeers or boos, lawmakers from both sides clasped the president's hand. In particular, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was the first to shake hands with President Yoon upon his entrance to the plenary hall and continued to see him off with handshakes until his final exit.

Before the speech, floor leader Hong stood up as soon as the announcement of President Yoon’s entrance was made to welcome him. After shaking hands with Hong, President Yoon immediately reached out to shake hands with Lee, who was seated across from him. Lee stood up and smiled slightly as he grasped the president’s hand.

President Yoon Suk-yeol enters the plenary hall at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 31st to deliver the policy speech on next year's government budget, greeting Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

As President Yoon walked down the aisle to deliver his speech, he sequentially extended his hand to Democratic Party lawmakers seated on both sides. When the president offered his hand, most lawmakers stood up in response, though some shook hands while seated or only grasped his hand while staring straight ahead.

Lawmakers from the People Power Party gave a standing ovation as President Yoon entered. This prompted calls of "Sit down" from opposition lawmakers. During the president’s speech, ruling party lawmakers gave collective applause to show their support. A total of 30 rounds of applause came from ruling party members during the speech.

After finishing his speech, President Yoon began moving around the plenary hall to shake hands with opposition lawmakers he had not met upon entering. He extended his hand to most lawmakers from the Justice Party, Democratic Party, and People Power Party alike.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is raising his hand in greeting as he exits the National Assembly plenary session hall after delivering the 2024 budget address on the 31st. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, is watching. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On this day, the plenary hall saw the gentleman’s agreement between floor leaders of both parties to prevent political strife work effectively. There were no placards or banners that could provoke political conflict inside the plenary hall. However, Progressive Party lawmaker Kang Sung-hee stood alone holding a placard that read, "What should be cut is not the budget but Yoon’s term," to greet President Yoon.

Presidential budget speeches have traditionally been occasions for opposition parties to launch attacks against the ruling party. Last year, the Democratic Party boycotted President Yoon’s budget speech in protest against the prosecution’s investigation targeting Lee Jae-myung, refusing to enter the plenary hall.

However, this year’s budget speech had a different atmosphere. Both President Yoon and Lee showed somewhat brighter expressions, and lawmakers from both sides listened attentively. Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the speech, "(During the pre-talk) we exchanged kind words."

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