Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung, who recently returned to Seoul following a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, has called for an immediate meeting with leaders of the Democratic Party (DP) and the People's Power Party (PPP). Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated that Lee has directed his aides to arrange a gathering with party heads, including the newly elected PPP Chairman, Jang Dong-hyuk. Jang has indicated his willingness to consider any formal proposal, emphasizing the importance of the meeting's format and agenda.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during a press briefing on his return flight, President Lee expressed his readiness to meet with opposition leaders who opposed the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, underscoring the necessity for open dialogue. Senior presidential secretary for political affairs, Woo Sang-ho, extended the president's invitation directly to Jang.
In the current political climate, meetings between the president and PPP leaders have become increasingly rare. The DP and PPP leaders often refuse even basic gestures of civility, such as handshakes, dismissing each other as if invisible. The PPP has criticized Lee's U.S. trip as a "diplomatic humiliation," highlighting the entrenched hostility between the parties. Despite Lee's appeals for cooperation, the confrontation has intensified.
DP Chairman Jung Chung-rae heightened the rhetoric by accusing the PPP of being a group that "sought to kill countless innocent people" and expressed skepticism about sitting with those who once targeted him. Jung demanded clarification from Jang on whether he supported Yoon's ongoing influence. Jang's gesture of sending flowers to congratulate Jung on his election was dismissed by Jung as mere reciprocation, with a quip to "stop the wild imagination." In response, Jang found the accusations laughable, labeling them as distorted political attacks.
Instead of engaging with the president's proposal, both parties have resorted to exchanging harsh words. Tensions escalated further after the ruling party rejected an opposition nominee for the National Human Rights Commission. Jung noted that politics is intended as "a contest of words," but the rhetoric has become more destructive than constructive. Although such language may energize partisan bases, to the general public, it appears as mere sophistry. The prolonged hostility in politics risks fostering division and cynicism.
President Lee has extended an olive branch, urging both parties to move beyond political brinkmanship. Rather than debating the logistics of the meeting, DP and PPP leaders are encouraged to convene promptly to evaluate diplomatic and security accomplishments and address national priorities. Only through mutual concession can genuine cooperation be achieved.