President Lee to Host Luncheon Meeting with Party Leaders at Cheong Wa Dae on the 16th... “Candid Discussions on Livelihood Issues”

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung will invite the leadership of each political party to Cheong Wa Dae on the 16th for a luncheon meeting. The event is intended to share the main policy directions for state affairs in the new year and to discuss bipartisan cooperation measures for restoring people’s livelihoods and stabilizing governance.
Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Kim Byung-wook said at a briefing at Chunchugwan in Cheong Wa Dae on the 12th, “President Lee Jae-myung plans to invite the leadership of each political party to Cheong Wa Dae this Friday, the 16th, for a luncheon-style meeting.”
Regarding the nature of the meeting, Kim explained, “To mark the new year, we plan to share the main directions for managing state affairs and discuss bipartisan cooperation measures for restoring people’s livelihoods and stabilizing governance,” adding, “There will be no particular restrictions on the agenda, and we expect candid exchanges of views on overall state affairs, including major economic and livelihood issues.”
Kim said, “Last year was a time of recovery and growth, in which we worked to rebuild a shattered economy and people’s livelihoods,” and continued, “This year, the president intends to focus the driving force of state affairs on creating tangible changes that the public can feel and on laying the foundation for a great national leap forward, and he will ask for the political community’s cooperation in this regard.” He added, “Cheong Wa Dae will continue to communicate with the leadership of each party and, based on unity and trust, open the path to a great leap forward for the Republic of Korea together with the people.”
In response to questions about who has been invited and who will attend, he said, “This time we have invited the leaders and parliamentary leaders of seven parties,” adding, “The People Power Party has not yet responded.” He explained that for the Reform Party, party leader Lee Jun-seok has indicated he will not attend due to an overseas official trip, while parliamentary leader Cheon Ha-ram has expressed his intention to attend. Kim said, “As far as I know, the other party leaders and parliamentary leaders are all planning to attend.”
Regarding the possibility of participation by the People Power Party, Kim said, “Just as Cheong Wa Dae previously held a meeting between President Lee and leaders Jung Chung-rae and Jang Dong-hyuk, we are ready at any time to arrange ample time for dialogue if the People Power Party leadership wishes,” adding, “Since the luncheon meeting is scheduled for Friday, we will wait patiently until then and hope that we can be together.” He went on to say that the proposal to the opposition party leadership was made “last Friday,” and added, “Even if one or two people do not attend, we will proceed with the scheduled luncheon meeting on Friday.”
On the situation in which the introduction of the Special Prosecutor Act at a plenary session and the possibility of a filibuster on the 16th are being discussed, Kim said, “We would welcome it if the leader of the People Power Party attends the luncheon meeting and states his position on the matter,” adding, “Each party may think differently, and even if the goals are the same, the processes and procedures may differ, and we fully respect that. We sincerely hope they will attend the luncheon meeting on the 16th.”
west@fnnews.com Seong Seok-woo Reporter