Kim Min-seok, the leader of the Democratic Party, met with Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, on August 24 to propose a resumption of communication between the ruling and opposition parties, which had been disrupted under former leader Jeong Cheong-rae. Jang agreed, stating he shares the sentiment that dialogue between party leaders should not cease, but he expressed concerns and publicly opposed issues such as the controversy over the Supreme Court justice nomination and real estate policies.
During their first meeting since taking office, Kim welcomed Jang to the National Assembly, demonstrating a willingness to establish a foundation for cooperation, unlike Jeong, who had refused to engage with the People Power Party leadership.
Kim suggested that the two party leaders should meet regularly to maintain ongoing discussions. He expressed a desire for a continuous dialogue, saying, "I hope we can build a bridge for uninterrupted communication." Jang echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for consistent opportunities for dialogue.
However, both leaders showed differences in opinion regarding recent controversies, including the Supreme Court justice nomination and real estate policies. Jang recalled that during former President Roh Moo-hyun's administration, he had expressed dissatisfaction with the nomination of former Chief Justice Choi Jong-ryul but accepted it in the interest of judicial independence.
Kim acknowledged that while the decision was a political one by former President Roh, he also noted that there were procedural issues involved.
On real estate policy, Jang argued that if the public cannot accept certain measures or if adverse effects are anticipated, the government should boldly change its policy direction. In response, Kim stated that the government's real estate policies are being developed to address market failures and expressed a commitment to achieving bipartisan cooperation through discussions on real estate issues.
After meeting with Jang, Kim also visited the leadership of minor parties, including the Justice Innovation Party, the Progressive Party, and the Basic Income Party, to request cooperation in legislative activities. A scheduled meeting with the Reform Party was canceled due to personal circumstances involving its leader, Lee Jun-seok.
Notably, Kim, who had previously advocated for caution regarding a merger with the Innovation Party during the last party convention, reiterated that a thorough deliberation process is necessary before any merger.
Shin Jang-sik, the leader of the Innovation Party, urged Kim, saying, "We have already experienced a strong alliance during the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol and the presidential election," and emphasized that trust between the two parties must be restored, starting with a roundtable discussion agreed upon during the election.
In response, Kim maintained a cautious stance, stating that any merger should be decided in a way that benefits both parties through discussions among party members.
Kim Jong-hoon, the leader of the Progressive Party, proposed that the government should focus on providing 300,000 housing units, which is about 30% of the 1.1 million housing supply plan, specifically for young people. Kim Min-seok responded that he would actively consider measures to ensure stable housing for the youth.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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