Lee previously met leaders of both major parties at a Jan. 16 lunch that also included leaders of minor parties. On April 7, he held a meeting and lunch of a ruling-opposition-government consultative body on the people’s economy with Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok.
It was the first time Lee invited all lawmakers from minor parties outside the negotiating blocs, along with independents, to a lunch meeting, the presidential office said, calling it a sign of his intent to communicate inclusively.
Twelve lawmakers from the Rebuilding Korea Party attended, including floor leader Seo Wang-jin. The Progressive Party sent four lawmakers led by floor leader Yoon Jong-oh. The New Reform Party was represented by floor leader Cheon Ha-ram and lawmaker Lee Ju-young. Social Democratic Party leader and floor leader Han Chang-min attended, along with independent lawmakers Kim Jong-min and Choi Hyuk-jin, for a total of 21 lawmakers.
New Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok did not attend due to a scheduled visit to Busan and Ulsan. Basic Income Party leader Yong Hye-in also did not attend because of a standing committee review schedule for the Framework Act on Life Safety.
From the presidential office, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik and Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo attended. Rep. Cho Jung-sik, a presidential special adviser for political affairs, also joined.
Regional issues including the Pyeongtaek Special Act and real estate policy were among the main topics.
Seo said residents of Pyeongtaek have “endured major sacrifices for decades” for national security, citing the relocation of a U.S. military base and the hosting of the Navy’s 2nd Fleet. While a special support law exists, he said, “special support linked to the base relocation is still limited.”
He said the law is operated as a temporary measure that has been repeatedly extended and called for converting it into a permanent law, asking for Lee’s attention and support.
Yoon called for overhauling the long-term holding special deduction, saying it “undermines tax fairness” and causes a “lock-up” in property listings. He said the Progressive Party has already introduced a bill to revise the comprehensive real estate holding tax law after the president pointed to the need to better reflect holding-tax burdens on ultra-high-priced homes and address companies’ non-business land holdings.
Yoon previously submitted, on April 8 with some Democratic Party lawmakers, an income tax bill to abolish the long-term holding special deduction and cut the lifetime cap on tax breaks available when selling a home to 200 million won.
Cheon proposed budget support for the Jeonnam-Gwangju integration and a state responsibility system for lawsuits involving teachers. He said 57.3 billion won in funding essential to the integration was entirely cut during the review of the supplementary budget, comparing it to Lee having “arranged the marriage” of Jeonnam and Gwangju but then saying, “Pay for the wedding yourselves.”
Cheon also said frontline teachers are left to handle malicious complaints and civil lawsuits without help, and urged a system so teachers would not have to go to police stations and courts when incidents occur.
Han called for pushing an “online monopoly regulation law,” saying the Coupang issue involves not only the leak of personal information of tens of millions of people but also serious abuses against small merchants and violations of labor rights. He said it must be addressed responsibly at home, beyond being treated as a diplomatic matter.
The presidential office took a cautious stance on the Fair Trade Commission’s decision to designate Coupang board chairman Kim Beom-seok as the head of a large business group in practice.
In a briefing after the lunch, senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, asked whether the designation could negatively affect South Korea-U.S. security and trade talks, said, “It was decided by the Fair Trade Commission based on its own laws and principles,” adding, “It is the commission’s decision.”
In remarks after the floor leaders spoke, Lee said that even when countries fight over domestic issues, it is hard to find cases where they engage in “self-destructive acts” on external matters such as diplomacy and security. “Unfortunately, it seems some of those elements still remain within us,” he said.
Lee added, “I am not saying that applies to anyone here,” but said the public would want politics to show the capacity to unite in times of crisis.
Lee said the external environment is “very unfavorable,” adding that while domestic turmoil can be overcome with the country’s own strength, worsening external conditions are not easy to solve alone. He urged lawmakers to take a public-minded approach when viewing foreign relations.
“Politics is, by nature, doing others’ work on their behalf,” Lee said. While pursuing political beliefs matters, he said what is truly important is a better life and future for the country and its people. “That is why politics needs a broader view,” he said.
He said real politics is competing over what is better for the country and people and earning voters’ choices, despite differences and interests. “Of course, the biggest responsibility lies with me. I will also make efforts,” Lee said, asking for cooperation to “gather the nation’s strength” and overcome difficulties at home and abroad.
To attendees, Lee said they likely had much to say and that he also had much he wanted to hear, promising to try to hold such meetings more often.
The lunch menu included shrimp and radish rolls with garlic sauce, sweet pumpkin porridge, pan-fried sea bream and mung bean pancakes, braised short ribs topped with chestnuts and ginkgo nuts, mushroom pot rice and clam seaweed soup.
The presidential office said the meeting was meant to convey solidarity and gratitude to lawmakers who have cooperated in efforts to overcome crises and stabilize state affairs, while stressing bipartisan cooperation on livelihood issues and legislation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.