President Lee Jae-myung met with lawmakers from minor parties and independents on Wednesday and asked them to "take a public stance on foreign relations." The remarks are seen as an indirect criticism of People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, whose visit to the United States sparked controversy amid rising tensions between Seoul and Washington.
Lee hosted a luncheon at the presidential office for lawmakers from five minor parties — the Rebuilding Korea Party, the Progressive Party, the Reform Party, the Basic Income Party, and the Social Democratic Party — as well as independent lawmakers. "Politics is essentially about acting on behalf of others," Lee said at the start of his remarks, adding, "That is why a broad perspective is truly necessary in politics."
"As all of our citizens recognize, the recent external situation is very bad," he said. "The domestic situation has also been very chaotic, but that is something we can overcome with our own strength. The deterioration of the external environment, however, is not easy to address with our strength alone." He pointed out, "In the areas of foreign affairs and security, it is difficult to find cases in other countries where self-harming acts are committed on external issues. Unfortunately, such elements seem to remain somewhat within our own country."
Lee's remarks are interpreted as emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation at least on external matters, amid continued criticism of the government's foreign policy from the opposition, including the People Power Party. Analysts view the comments as particularly aimed at Jang, who recently returned from the United States and relayed Washington's concerns over the government's handling of the Coupang incident.
Kang Yu-jung, senior presidential spokesperson, explained that in closed-door remarks, Lee repeatedly stressed that "matters related to diplomacy must be centered on national interest, regardless of political polarization." Lee also said, "I hope politics can demonstrate the capacity for unity to overcome this crisis," adding, "Of course, the greatest responsibility among them lies with me."
The lawmakers present made a series of recommendations, including an energy transition centered on renewable energy, balanced national development, reform of the special deduction for long-term asset holdings, and the effective implementation of the revised labor union law. Suh Wang-jin, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, said, "The current high oil prices demonstrate the structural vulnerability of our energy security, which is excessively dependent on fossil fuel imports." He added, "Please push forward more swiftly with the renewable energy-centered energy transition, which is also a government policy task."
Chun Ha-ram, floor leader of the Reform Party, criticized the full removal of 57.3 billion won in budget for the administrative integration of South Jeolla Province and Gwangju during the supplementary budget review. "It's like arranging a marriage and then telling them to cover the wedding costs themselves," he said, requesting government support.
While Lee met with leaders of minor parties at a luncheon with ruling and opposition leadership in January, this was the first time he invited all minor party lawmakers and independents together.
