Former President Lee Myung-bak met with Kwon Young-se, the emergency response committee chairman of the People Power Party, at the Cheonggye Foundation in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 27th. During the meeting, Lee commented on the current political situation, saying, “It seems like the conservative party is at its most difficult time since its inception.” He encouraged unity, suggesting that even a small number with consolidated strength can achieve results.
Kwon responded by criticizing the Democratic Party’s push to enforce amendments to the Commercial Act, arguing that such laws create difficulties for both large and small enterprises. He expressed determination to work together to block these measures.
Lee emphasized the necessity of new government support policies for enterprises in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). He shared concerns from meetings with small and medium-sized enterprise leaders, who expressed significant anxiety over economic challenges. He noted that globally, governments support the semiconductor industry, but current policies are limiting Korean companies.
Kwon brought up the issue of the 52-hour work week policy, suggesting flexibility for R&D workers, but stated that Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung opposed it due to union preferences. Lee discussed past encounters, such as with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, to illustrate the need for time-flexibility in emerging industries, noting how, in the U.S., innovation often happens without strict time constraints.
Kwon commented on the nation’s labor unions, describing their influence as a captivity, while Lee expressed concerns about the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation in facing challenges.
Post-meeting, Kwon conveyed to reporters Lee’s considerable concerns regarding the economy, urging for environments where SMEs can thrive. Shin Dong-wook, the chief spokesperson, noted recent positive trends in party approval ratings attributed to President Yoon Seok-yeol’s perceived sincerity.
However, specific discussions on President Yoon’s impeachment trial final arguments, constitutional amendments, or post-impeachment strategies were not detailed.