President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Monday meeting with People Power Party (PPP) chairman Han Dong-hoon was expected to yield bold results, especially since it was arranged after Han’s persistent requests. Han had openly stated his intention to bring up sensitive issues involving first lady Kim Keon Hee. During the meeting, he urged the president to overhaul the presidential office, suggested that the first lady halt her public activities and called for her cooperation in uncovering the facts behind the allegations against her. While few details were released immediately, reports indicate that Yoon requested a list of candidates for a possible reshuffle. The two were also said to disagree on the first lady’s past legal risks and new allegations of her exercising influence in elections.

The format of the meeting itself seemed to shape the crucial conversation between Yoon and the PPP chairman. Instead of a one-on-one discussion, the president and Han met for about 80 minutes with presidential chief of staff Chung Jin-s
uk present. Rather than over dinner, the meeting took place over tea and fruit. Neither side held an official briefing afterward.

From Han’s camp, PPP Secretary General Rep. Park Jeong-ha spoke briefly with reporters at the National Assembly, saying that the ruling party leader reiterated his three requests and added a call for the appointment of a special inspector to oversee the first lady’s office. He also pushed for the activation of a consultative body between the ruling and opposition parties, the government and doctors to address the ongoing medical crisis. When asked about the president’s responses, Park repeatedly referred reporters to the presidential office, which did not hold a briefing. A presidential official simply noted that the two leaders agreed to work together for the administration’s success.

The nature of the meeting, along with the absence of briefings, reflects the strained atmosphere and the current state of relations between the president and ruling party chief. Their positions sta
rkly contrast with the political reality they face. The president’s approval ratings are alarmingly low, and concerns are growing even within the ruling party regarding the controversies surrounding the first lady. According to a Gallup Korea poll conducted on Oct. 18, Yoon’s approval rating plummeted to a record low of 22 percent, with 67 percent of respondents believing that the first lady should reduce her official activities.

The declining public support and sentiment emerge even though prosecutors cleared the first lady of charges related to accepting a luxury bag and the alleged stock price manipulation of Deutsch Motor. However, new revelations from a questionable pollster named Myung Tae-kyun and his former staff have added another layer to the first lady’s controversies, suggesting that she may have exerted influence over nominations for the general elections.

While Korean voters can be understanding, there are limits to their patience. Some progressive civic groups have already initiated rallies a
nd events demanding the president’s impeachment. The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is also pursuing the impeachment of various government agency chiefs. Additionally, the DPK has proposed yet another bill for a special counsel investigation into the first lady.

Criticism has emerged regarding the PPP leader’s unconventional approach to communicating his messages to the president before meetings, which some view as a strategic way to send signals. Many political observers in Korea interpret Han’s actions as indicative of his ambition for the 2027 presidential election. However, Monday’s meetings raises a legitimate question: do the president and his office recognize the need for a solution to prevent public disappointment over the first lady from escalating into anger? With the president and the ruling party leader seemingly at an impasse, a clear resolution appears unlikely. Both leaders must recognize that the public is looking for reassurance that the controversies surrounding
the first lady will be addressed and that the ruling party will function as a genuine political entity dedicated to serving the people.

Source: Yonhap News Agency