SEOUL: President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon are set to meet one-on-one early next week, focusing discussions on allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee as confirmed by multiple ruling bloc officials on Monday. The meeting, scheduled after Wednesday’s by-elections, will address various pressing issues that currently affect the political landscape.
According to Yonhap News Agency, multiple ruling bloc officials, the planned meeting between Yoon and Han is poised to delve into several contentious topics, notably the allegations against the first lady. These allegations include her suspected involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, acceptance of a luxury bag, and alleged interference in the PPP’s candidate nominations for the upcoming April general elections. Han, who had previously requested a one-on-one meeting with Yoon last month ahead of a dinner event, has emphasized the necessity to thoroughly address and resolve these issues to restore public trust
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The meeting comes amid growing tensions within the presidential office, with Han openly calling for a reshuffle to alleviate public concerns surrounding the first lady. Furthermore, on Thursday, Han urged the prosecution to reach a resolution that would be acceptable to the public regarding the stock manipulation allegations. Han, once considered a close confidant of President Yoon and described by critics as Yoon’s “avatar,” has seen his relationship with the president strained. The strain is largely due to their differing approaches to handling the controversies involving the first lady, the government’s push for medical reform, and other sensitive matters.