South Korea's President Yoon Meets Opposition Leader Lee Amid Calls for Bipartisan Cooperation

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with opposition leader Lee Jae-myung in Seoul on Monday to discuss bipartisan cooperation following the ruling party's defeat in the April 10 parliamentary election. Lee, who now serves as the Democratic Party chairman, called on Yoon to accept independent probes into several high-profile incidents, including the deadly Halloween crowd crush in Seoul last year that killed 159 people, the recent death of a marine during a search-and-rescue operation, and allegations involving Yoon's wife.

During the meeting, Lee also asked Yoon to support his proposal to provide 250,000 won (approximately $180) to all South Koreans as a means to stimulate the economy. However, Yoon's party has labeled the measure as populist. While no agreement was reached on the cash handout proposal, Yoon agreed to consider a special law to investigate the Halloween deaths, although he noted that concerns over the powers of an ad hoc investigation committee must first be resolved.

Why this matters: The meeting between Yoon and Lee marks their first since Yoon's election victory in 2022, and comes at a critical time as the opposition's win in the recent parliamentary election has given them more leverage to pressure Yoon's administration. The discussions highlight the challenges Yoon faces in working with the opposition-controlled parliament to address key issues and restore public confidence following the ruling party's electoral defeat.

In a positive development, Lee said his party would support the government's push to increase the number of medical school students, an initiative that had previously prompted a walkout by young doctors. The two leaders agreed to meet again in the future, although no specific date was set.

The meeting between Yoon and Lee underscores the political challenges facing South Korea's president in the wake of the ruling party's defeat in the parliamentary election. While the discussions yielded some progress on issues like the Halloween tragedy investigation and medical school reforms, significant differences remain on key proposals such as the cash handout plan. As Yoon seeks to navigate an opposition-controlled parliament, finding common ground and forging bipartisan cooperation will be essential to advancing his policy agenda and addressing the concerns of the South Korean public.

Key Takeaways

• South Korean President Yoon met opposition leader Lee to discuss bipartisan cooperation.
• Lee urged Yoon to accept probes into incidents like the deadly Halloween crowd crush.
• Lee proposed $180 cash handouts, but Yoon's party labeled it as populist.
• Yoon agreed to consider a special law to investigate the Halloween deaths.
• The meeting underscores Yoon's challenges in working with the opposition-controlled parliament.