Opposition's Park Chan-dae Meets Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs: "Ruling and Opposition Must Unite to Overcome Crisis"

Pressuring Yoon Administration with Livelihood Recovery Fund and Special Investigation Law on Chae Sang-byeong

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met with Hong Cheol-ho, the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs of the Presidential Office, emphasizing bipartisan cooperation while urging acceptance of the nationwide livelihood recovery support fund and the Special Investigation Act on Corporal Chae Sang-byeong.

Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae (left) shakes hands with Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs of the Presidential Office, who visited the National Assembly on the 7th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 7th, Floor Leader Park visited the main building of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, to congratulate Senior Secretary Hong on his appointment and received a congratulatory flower basket from President Yoon Seok-yeol. Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party’s Deputy Floor Leader, and Cha Soon-oh, the Presidential Office’s First Secretary for Political Affairs, also attended the visit.

Senior Secretary Hong said, "President Yoon asked me to seek a lot of help," adding, "Congratulations, and I ask for broad politics that can achieve cooperation during these difficult times."

Floor Leader Park responded, "To prepare for the lives of the people and the future of the Republic of Korea, the ruling and opposition parties must join forces to overcome this crisis," but also noted, "At the recent summit meeting between President Yoon and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, the ruling and opposition parties, as well as the president and opposition leader, communicated sufficiently and shared necessary matters, but there are still some regrettable parts." He continued, "I hope the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs will play a role in communication so that the opposition can convey public sentiment, and that story can be delivered to the president, working together to represent the difficulties and lives of the people."

However, in a private talk with Senior Secretary Hong, Floor Leader Park pressured the Presidential Office by mentioning the livelihood recovery support fund and the Special Investigation Act on Corporal Chae Sang-byeong. After the private meeting between Floor Leader Park and Senior Secretary Hong, Democratic Party Deputy Floor Leader Park Sung-jun told reporters, "(Floor Leader Park) said it would be good to discuss the supplementary budget allocation together after the People Power Party elects its floor leader on the 9th regarding the 250,000 won nationwide livelihood recovery support fund," and added, "Regarding the special investigation on Corporal Chae, he expressed curiosity about the president’s stance but conveyed a call for acceptance, noting that if a veto is exercised and a re-deliberation occurs, it could cause political turmoil."

Senior Secretary Hong said, "Floor Leader Park shared the Democratic Party’s position on current political issues," and added, "Since there are many areas that require the Presidential Office’s attention, we agreed to communicate with each other and strive to make the 22nd National Assembly a productive one."

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