Meeting Yoon and Han Dong-hoon after 178 days
Eating pork belly in one day after the launch of the People Power Party
Unprecedented attendance of losing candidates such as Na Kyung-won
Yoon: “Forget elections and support Han boldly”
Han: “Efforts for the success of the Yoon government”
Emphasizing the fate of the ruling party and government as a community,
President Yoon Seok-yeol, dinner with the newly-appointed People Power Party leadership and candidates for party leader – President Yoon Seok-yeol is speaking before the dinner with the newly-appointed People Power Party leadership at the Pinegrass restaurant inside the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul on the 24th. From left, Kim Jae-won, chief delegate, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader, Han Dong-hoon, president, Jang Dong-hyuk, chief delegate, Jin Jong-oh, youth chief delegate, Jeong Jeom-sik, policy director, Bae Jun-young, deputy floor leader, Shin Dong-wook, deputy party spokesperson. On the other side, from right, Na Kyung-won, lawmaker, President Yoon. Provided by the Presidential Office, ‘President Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, the newly appointed leader of the People Power Party, sat down face-to-face after 178 days and reaffirmed their willingness to reconcile between the ruling party and the government, mending the rift caused during the general election and party convention processes.’,
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, ‘On the 24th, President Yoon and Chairman Han held a dinner that also served as a courtesy call with the newly appointed People Power Party leadership at Pinegrass inside the Yongsan Presidential Office from 6:30 PM for about 2 hours. Among the attendees were Chairman Han, newly appointed senior officials, floor leaders, and failed party leader election candidates Won Hee-ryong, Na Kyung-won, and Yoon Sang-hyun, totaling 16 members of the ruling party. In the Presidential Office, 10 people, including Secretary General Jeong Jin-seok and National Security Office Director Jang Ho-jin, were present.’,
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, ‘The dinner proceeded with a casual atmosphere as per President Yoon’s proposal to engage in conversation without formality, with attendees dressed in no neckties. As the dinner began, President Yoon greeted Chairman Han with a handshake, saying “Thank you for your hard work.” He also asked Jong Jong-oh, the youth chief delegate, “Isn’t it more difficult than doing sports?”‘,
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, ‘One participant reported that President Yoon then suggested to Chairman Han, “Let’s enhance communication between the ruling party and the government. If needed, let’s communicate directly. Let presidential aides and the party’s Yeouido team closely call each other.” In response, Chairman Han reportedly said, “I will strive for the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and its return to power.”‘,
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, ‘Before concluding the meeting, President Yoon posed for a group photo with a beer in hand—while Chairman Han, who doesn’t drink alcohol, held a cola—and encouraged everyone, saying, “Don’t wait thinking ‘Chairman Han will lead the way,’ but come forward and support boldly. Don’t leave him alone.” He also emphasized the importance of leadership among politicians, stating that increasing Chairman Han’s leadership in the party is vital.’,
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, ‘President Yoon also reminded the losing candidates to “forget all about what happened during the election,” and emphasized, “Let’s work together as one to ensure the success of the ruling party and the government.” Discussions on focusing on people’s livelihoods were also reported.’,
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, ‘The menu for the day included pork belly, pork ribs, assorted lettuce wraps, and kimchi gimbap, personally selected by President Yoon, according to the Presidential Office. The office explained, “Pork belly symbolizes the unity of the ruling party and the government. The choice of representative Korean dishes eaten in informal situations signifies the intention to communicate and dialogue cordially. Initially, bibimbap was planned as a symbol of reconciliation between the ruling party and the government, but assorted wraps with a similar intention were prepared.”‘,
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, ‘During the March 8th convention last year, President Yoon had a dinner with ousted candidates excluding them just five days after Kim Gi-hyeon’s election as the previous leader, contrasting with this time inviting all losing candidates, including those who lost the day after Chairman Han’s election, indicating a gesture of reconciliation.’,
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, ‘Before the dinner, Chairman Han met with Hong Cheol-ho, the presidential secretary for national affairs at the National Assembly, and received a congratulatory vase sent by President Yoon. Secretary Hong conveyed the President’s message that “The ruling party and the government must act as one body,” to which Chairman Han emphasized, “Internal harmony and solidarity come first. The strength of the ruling party is that it can create synergy.” However, given Chairman Han’s long-standing emphasis on a “horizontal ruling-party relationship,” the sustainability of both sides’ reconciliation messages is seen as uncertain.’,
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