New ruling party chairman meets main opposition leader

Ruling People Power Party Chairman Kim Gi-hyeon, right, shakes hands with main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung during their meeting at the latter's office at the National Assembly, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

The new ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon met with main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung, Wednesday, and stressed bipartisan efforts to take care of people's livelihoods.

While the meeting was seen as a possible truce between the rival parties, it remains to be seen if their meeting will develop into practical cooperation. The two parties have been trading barbs over issues ranging from President Yoon Suk Yeol's diplomatic efforts to mend relations with Japan, to a special counsel probe into first lady Kim Keon Hee and allegations against Chairman Lee.

During their meeting at the National Assembly, Kim emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to pass bills that the two parties have only minor differences on. He also suggested that he and Lee should meet once every two weeks.

"I saw Lee's Facebook post in which he expressed his willingness to cooperate with the PPP on matters where he can," Kim said. "Although our parties have different orientations and pursue different values, our ultimate goal is to take care of the public's livelihoods and improve people's lives. From this perspective, I believe that the two parties share the same goal."

Kim also expressed appreciation for the DPK's decision on Tuesday to accept a tax incentive bill for chipmakers proposed by the government, citing it as an example of successful bipartisan efforts.

"While there are still some bills over which the two parties are in disagreement, I hope that others can be promptly approved at the Assembly," Kim said. He also asked for Lee's attention to a pending bill on the balanced growth of non-Seoul areas.

In response, Lee congratulated Kim on his victory in the party's chairman election last week and emphasized that "politics should be about a competition to protect the public's interests."

"Regardless of our party's position, I believe that we should be able to cooperate on government policies or proposals as long as they do not go against the public good," Lee said.

"During the presidential election, both ruling and opposition candidates made a lot of promises in common. I believe this reflects a national consensus, and the two parties should establish a bipartisan consultation committee to implement these common pledges." Lee was a presidential candidate in last year's presidential election, competing against Yoon at the time.

Despite the cordial greetings and bipartisan promises, few believe that this will result in the two parties narrowing their differences on various political matters.

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung, third from left, criticizes the government's resolution on compensating victims of wartime forced labor by Japan during the party's supreme council meeting at the National Assembly, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Currently, the DPK is mounting its political offensives on the government's resolution to compensate victims of wartime forced labor by Japan through a public fund that does not involve the Japanese companies who were responsible for the acts. Also, the party is criticizing the Yoon administration for taking "a submissive stance" in its relations with Japan.

During a party meeting on Wednesday, Chairman Lee slammed Yoon's scheduled visit to Japan on Thursday, saying "Korea's national dignity has fallen."

"Even before Yoon visits Japan, all I can hear is that Korea will surrender itself on the General Security of Military Information Agreement between Seoul and Tokyo and the scheduled release of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant," Lee said.

The PPP is criticizing the DPK for "instigating anti-Japan sentiment in an irresponsible manner" and supported Yoon's work regarding the forced labor issue as a "determination for greater causes."

Apart from Japan, the DPK has been pursuing a special counsel probe into first lady Kim, in protest of the prosecution's decision to clear her of graft charges related to the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case. The stock manipulation case centers on allegations that a former head of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, conspired with influential market players, including Kim, to manipulate the company's stock prices between December 2009 and December 2012.

The ruling party is also focusing its crosshairs on allegations faced by Lee. The prosecution has been investigating Lee over his alleged involvement in a land development scandal in Seongnam, an illegal money transfer to a North Korean underwear maker called Ssangbangwool and other issues.

A recent parliamentary vote on whether the Assembly will allow the prosecution to arrest Lee, saw a sizable number of DPK members agreeing to Lee's arrest, triggering factional turmoil within the party and threatening the chairman's grip on the party. The PPP is demanding Lee resign for the sake of the DPK's future and Korea's politics.

"What Chairman Lee should do now is not make excuses for himself through SNS (social media) posts," PPP spokesperson Yun Hee-suk said in a statement, Tuesday. "The priority for him is stepping down from the post for the sake of the DPK's future and the restoration of Korea's party-based politics."