Presidential office: Luncheon with ruling and opposition leaders canceled after Jang Dong-hyuk’s absence “deeply regrettable”

[Financial News] The planned luncheon meeting among President Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae, and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk has been canceled.
Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, told a briefing at Chunchugwan on the 12th, "Today’s planned luncheon meeting with the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties was canceled after People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk suddenly notified us that he would not attend."
He went on, "This meeting was intended as an opportunity for communication and cooperation on key state affairs. We are deeply disappointed that we have lost the chance to fulfill that purpose."
He added, "Even so, the presidential office will not let go of the thread of dialogue in order to improve people’s lives," stressing, "The Lee Jae-myung administration will continue on the path of cooperative governance through mutual respect and responsible dialogue."
According to Hong, on that morning Park Jun-tae, chief of staff to the People Power Party leader, conveyed Jang’s intention not to attend. Hong said, "It appears to be linked to the situation at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee yesterday. They cited that issue as the reason why it would be difficult to attend the luncheon at the presidential office."
Asked why the presidential office did not go ahead with the luncheon only with Jung Chung-rae after Jang declined to attend, Hong replied, "There was no particular reason," but added, "The purpose of today’s luncheon was to invite the leaders of the ruling party and the main opposition party and discuss overall state affairs. We judged that holding the meeting without Jang Dong-hyuk present would have little significance."
On whether meetings with the opposition would continue to be pursued, he answered, "The presidential office’s door for dialogue is always open; that is the principle I would like to state," but also said, "From the presidential office’s perspective, it is particularly regrettable that an agreed schedule with the president was canceled in connection with the situation in the National Assembly."
He further stated, "In particular, it was highly inappropriate that, this morning, the People Power Party appeared to explain the situation in the National Assembly as if it were linked to the presidential office," and emphasized, "Matters related to the National Assembly’s schedule and the operation of its standing committees are for the ruling party to handle on its own. The presidential office does not engage or intervene in any way in that process. Canceling a scheduled luncheon on the grounds of such National Assembly business is deeply regrettable."
Originally, President Lee was to hold a luncheon meeting at 12 p.m. that day with the leaders of the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party, but about an hour before the meal, Jang’s side notified the presidential office that he would not attend.
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun, Sung Seok-woo Reporter