Seoul: The leader of South Korea’s ruling party, Han Dong-hoon, has called on President Yoon Suk Yeol to take decisive action concerning the controversies surrounding the first lady, Kim Keon Hee. During a meeting on Monday, Han proposed that Kim withdraw from public activities, suggested a reshuffle of key presidential office staff, and recommended the appointment of a special inspector to address these issues.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Han, the leader of the People Power Party (PPP), expressed these concerns during his dialogue with President Yoon at the presidential office. The meeting was detailed by Han’s chief secretary, Park Jung-ha, who informed reporters about the discussions that took place. Park highlighted that Han reiterated the need for bold reforms to tackle the rising public discontent and clear up suspicions surrounding the first lady.
The ruling party leader also voiced his support for the Yoon administration’s broader reform agenda, particularly in the healthcare sector, emphasizin
g the creation of a consultative body involving the government, political parties, and doctors’ groups. This body would aim to resolve ongoing disputes over proposed medical reforms, which include increasing the medical school admissions quota to approximately 2,000 annually for the next five years.
During the meeting, which was also attended by the presidential chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, both Yoon and Han agreed to collaborate closely to counter the opposition’s tactics and further the government’s reform initiatives. A presidential official, familiar with the meeting, noted that there was a shared consensus on the need for unity between the party and the government to thwart any breaches of constitutional order by the opposition and to ensure the success of the administration’s policies.
This meeting follows a recent by-election where the PPP secured two out of four available seats, reflecting public support for Han’s leadership and his commitment to resolving the controversies involving the first lad
y. The discussions come at a critical time as President Yoon’s administration faces increased pressure from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), which has escalated its political attacks and even suggested the possibility of impeachment over allegations linked to the first lady. These allegations include her involvement in a stock manipulation scheme and illegal political interference, all of which she has denied and for which the prosecution recently decided not to indict her. Meanwhile, the DP continues to push for a special counsel probe into the first lady’s alleged misconduct, marking their third attempt following two vetoes by President Yoon.