![Senior presidential secretary Hong Ik-pyo briefs reporters Thursday at Cheong Wa Dae on the canceled lunch meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and the leaders of the Democratic Party and the People Power Party. [Photo by Yonhap]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/02/12/20260212121643520997.jpg)
SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday expressed "regret" over the cancellation of a planned luncheon meeting hosted by President Lee Jae Myung with the leaders of the leading parties.
"It is very regrettable that the meeting was canceled," said Hong Ik-pyo, senior presidential secretary for political affairs. "It was meant to improve communication and bipartisan cooperation on key state affairs, but the chance to fulfill that purpose was lost."
Lee's planned meeting with the ruling Democratic Party (DP)'s leader Jung Chung-rae and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)'s leader Jang Dong-hyeok was called off earlier in the day after Jang abruptly decided not to attend.
Criticizing Lee's proposal for talks as a "mere photo-op" to distract from his wrongdoings, Jang cited a couple of reasons he could not attend. Among them was a DP-led bill to increase the number of Supreme Court justices, which opponents argue would undermine judicial independence by stacking the top court with ideologically like-minded and favorable judges.
But Hong said Cheong Wa Dae would continue to seek cooperation and pursue dialogue to improve people's livelihoods.
"It is very regrettable that the meeting was canceled," said Hong Ik-pyo, senior presidential secretary for political affairs. "It was meant to improve communication and bipartisan cooperation on key state affairs, but the chance to fulfill that purpose was lost."
Lee's planned meeting with the ruling Democratic Party (DP)'s leader Jung Chung-rae and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)'s leader Jang Dong-hyeok was called off earlier in the day after Jang abruptly decided not to attend.
Criticizing Lee's proposal for talks as a "mere photo-op" to distract from his wrongdoings, Jang cited a couple of reasons he could not attend. Among them was a DP-led bill to increase the number of Supreme Court justices, which opponents argue would undermine judicial independence by stacking the top court with ideologically like-minded and favorable judges.
But Hong said Cheong Wa Dae would continue to seek cooperation and pursue dialogue to improve people's livelihoods.
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