{"id":2206343,"date":"2024-09-02T08:00:50","date_gmt":"2024-09-01T23:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2206343"},"modified":"2024-09-01T22:11:56","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T13:11:56","slug":"south-koreas-main-parties-agree-on-eight-key-issues-in-rare-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/09\/south-koreas-main-parties-agree-on-eight-key-issues-in-rare-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s main parties agree on eight key issues in rare talks"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korea\u2019s ruling People Power Party (<\/span>PPP<\/span><\/a>) and main opposition Democratic Party (<\/span>DP<\/span><\/a>) agreed on eight key points during a rare leadership meeting on Sunday. The parties pledged to establish a consultative body for common livelihood policies, review the financial investment income tax, address the ongoing medical crisis, support key industries, alleviate household debt, expand parental leave, combat deepfake sex crimes and consider reintroducing local party chapters.<\/span><\/p>\n PPP leader Han Dong-hoon emphasized narrowing societal disparities and expanding opportunities while proposing regular leadership meetings. Han urged the DP to accept upcoming court rulings, referencing recent legal challenges DP leader Lee Jae-myung has faced. The meeting marked the first leadership talks between the two parties in 11 years.<\/span><\/p>\n WHY IT MATTERS<\/b><\/p>\n The meeting between Han and Lee signals a potential shift toward more cooperative politics. Their agreement to continue to discuss key issues like the financial investment income tax and the ongoing doctors\u2019 strike could pave the way for legislative progress on pressing national concerns. The two main parties\u2019 relations with each other have been well-known for animosity and gridlock rather than cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n The proposed reintroduction of local party chapters, <\/span>abolished<\/span><\/a> in 2004 due to <\/span>illegal funding concerns<\/span><\/a>, would allow parties to establish local offices and potentially expand grassroots political activities. However, the minor opposition <\/span>Rebuilding Korea Party<\/span><\/a> criticized this move, contending that it reflects the two main parties\u2019 prioritization of their own interests over urgent political reforms. Critics fear the return of local party chapters could revive practices like the <\/span>2002 car bulk buying scandal<\/span><\/a>, where the One Nation Party \u2014 one of the PPP\u2019s predecessors \u2014 received about $18.7 million (25 billion won) in illegal campaign funds from major corporations, transferred in vehicles at highway rest stops, leading to widespread political distrust and eventual legal reforms.<\/span><\/p>\n