When Will the Handonghun-Lee Jaemyung Leaders' Meeting Take Place?

Korea Steps Back from Demanding Public Debate
Democrats Condition on Korea's Special Prosecutor Proposal by Chae Sang-byeong
Chuseok Holiday Period Likely the Deadline

The meeting between Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is being delayed due to disagreements over the agenda setting. Han stepped back on the demand for live broadcasting of the meeting on the 26th, saying he would not insist on it as a precondition, but the Democratic Party reiterated that the special prosecution bill for Chae Sang-byeong, which Han himself proposed, must be a precondition for the meeting. Political circles expect the first deadline for the leaders' meeting schedule to be the Chuseok holiday. This is based on the judgment that if the confrontation between the two sides continues and the schedule is further delayed, public attention could significantly decline.

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Han said, "My opinion that 'it would be better to disclose the entire meeting to the public as it is' remains unchanged," but added, "Since there are reasonable voices opposing the disclosure of the meeting from the Democratic Party, I will not insist on that point as a precondition for the meeting." The People Power Party thus left open the possibility of withdrawing the demand for a public debate while urging the Democratic Party to promptly proceed with the leaders' meeting.

Han's remarks are related to the situation where the approval ratings of the People Power Party and the Democratic Party have become extremely close. The intention is interpreted as preventing the leaders' meeting from being delayed or canceled over the issue of live broadcasting, thereby leading the support of moderate, metropolitan, and youth voters who are sensitive to livelihood policies. In fact, in a party support survey conducted by Realmeter on the 22nd and 23rd at the request of Energy Economy Newspaper targeting 1,000 voters nationwide aged 18 and over, released that day, the People Power Party recorded 37%, up 6 percentage points from the previous week, while the Democratic Party recorded 40%, down 2.2 percentage points, showing a close race within the margin of error. (For detailed information, refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission website)

Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman, and Lee Jae-myung, Party Leader, in Conversation
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Photo by Hong Hae-in = Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party (right), and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are seen conversing at the 105th March 1st Movement Anniversary Ceremony held at the Yu Gwan-sun Memorial Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, on March 1, 2024.
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Although Han stepped back from the demand for a public debate, the possibility of the Democratic Party responding positively remains uncertain. Cho Seung-rae, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, told reporters, "There is still time. It would be good if Han clearly expresses whether he genuinely accepts a third-party special prosecution or if his statement was just empty talk made at the time." Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, pressured at the Supreme Council meeting that day, saying, "Today is the deadline for urging Han to propose the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution bill," and added, "It has been over a month since he took office as party leader, and excuses for not proposing the bill are unacceptable."

Regarding the Democratic Party's demand that the third-party Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution bill be proposed by that day, Han told reporters at the National Assembly that morning that a special prosecution could be one option concerning the departure of former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, which could raise public suspicion. He retorted, "Who are the Democrats to tell me when to do it?" and said, "If they are really urgent, wouldn't the chances of passing increase if they withdraw the bill after removing the toxic clauses and reintroduce it?" Han added that there is no need to follow the Democratic Party, which is playing a 'political game' with the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution bill and trying to sow division within the ruling party.

The reason the Democratic Party repeatedly emphasizes the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution bill as a precondition is interpreted as because it is a key card that can simultaneously pressure President Yoon Seok-yeol and Han. It is analyzed as an attempt to highlight suspicions about the presidential office through the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution and to induce internal conflicts within the ruling party in the process. In fact, if Han agrees to propose the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution bill and discuss it with the Democratic Party at the leaders' meeting, it is widely interpreted that internal opposition within his party will be inevitable.

If the confrontation between the two sides prolongs, the possibility of the leaders' meeting being held may become uncertain. The rare thawing atmosphere between the ruling and opposition parties could instead worsen. This is because there is a high possibility that both sides will blame each other for the failure of the leaders' meeting.

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