{"id":2204784,"date":"2024-04-22T08:00:01","date_gmt":"2024-04-21T23:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204784"},"modified":"2024-04-21T23:28:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T14:28:38","slug":"yoon-lee-likely-to-discuss-contentious-issues-in-first-meet-since-inauguration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/04\/yoon-lee-likely-to-discuss-contentious-issues-in-first-meet-since-inauguration\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoon, Lee likely to discuss contentious issues in first meet since inauguration"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung will likely meet this week for the first time since Yoon\u2019s inauguration two years ago. DP spokesperson Kang Seon-woo <\/span>confirmed<\/span><\/a> on Friday that Yoon and Lee spoke on the phone, whereby Yoon inquired about Lee\u2019s health and proposed a meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee agreed to meet with the president, citing the need to address national and economic issues. The DP welcomed Yoon\u2019s proposal, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan cooperation in tackling the nation\u2019s challenges. Lee expressed hope that the meeting would provide an opportunity for substantive dialogue.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n Lee Jae-myung will meet with Yoon from a position of strength following the <\/span>results of the April 10 parliamentary elections<\/span><\/a>. During the meeting, Lee will likely push for his long-standing <\/span>pledge<\/span><\/a> of distributing government cash vouchers worth $180 (250,000 won), estimated to cost $9.5 billion (13 trillion won). This proposal comes at a time when South Korea is facing a <\/span>record-high national debt<\/span><\/a> and significant <\/span>tax revenue shortfalls<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n They will also likely discuss the ongoing doctors\u2019 strike and the grain bill, which Yoon has already vetoed once.<\/span><\/p>\n It remains to be seen if Lee will raise the call for special probes into first lady Kim Keon-hee and former defense minister Lee Jong-sup. <\/span>Kim<\/span><\/a> is alleged to have played a role in manipulating Deutsche Motors\u2019 stock prices, while <\/span>Lee<\/span><\/a> is alleged to have interfered in delaying the findings of an internal investigation into the death of a marine last year. Given the contentious nature of the topics Lee will likely raise, it remains uncertain whether this meeting will lead to productive outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n