Prime Minister Kim Min-seok will hold a dinner meeting with the ruling party's new floor leadership, following recent gatherings with National Assembly standing committee members.
According to the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday, Kim will dine with Democratic Party Floor Leader Han Byung-do and other members of the party's floor leadership on June 19 at the prime minister's official residence in Seoul. About 18 people are expected to attend, including Han and the chief deputy floor leader. The dinner was arranged at the request of the floor leadership, according to sources.
Kim previously held dinner meetings with ruling and opposition lawmakers from select standing committees on June 11 and 12, with another gathering scheduled for June 14. The series of dinner meetings is primarily aimed at urging lawmakers to cooperate on swift legislation, sources said. Kim has repeatedly stressed that many key bills remain stalled in the National Assembly and that the "golden time for legislation" must not be missed.
Some analysts view the meetings as an effort by Kim, who is seen as a potential candidate for the Democratic Party's next leadership, to broaden his contacts with lawmakers ahead of the party convention in August. Some observers predict Kim could step down as prime minister around the June 3 local elections and formally launch a bid for the party leadership.
