Seoul: President Yoon Suk Yeol and the leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), Han Dong-hoon, met Monday to discuss a series of critical national issues including recent controversies involving the first lady, Kim Keon Hee. The meeting was held over tea at the presidential office and included the participation of the presidential chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting addressed various topics, likely focusing significantly on the challenges faced by the president and his party as they navigate declining approval ratings and intensified political attacks from the opposition. The president’s approval ratings have recently fallen below 30% as he approaches the midpoint of his five-year term. This backdrop adds a sense of urgency to the discussions held by the ruling party’s leadership.
The controversies surrounding the first lady have added to the ruling party’s challenges, with allegations ranging from her involvement in a stock manipulation scheme to the illegal re
ceipt of luxury items and interference in political candidate nominations. These issues have fueled the opposition’s campaign against Yoon, with some members of the Democratic Party (DP) even suggesting the possibility of impeachment.
Despite these challenges, the PPP managed to secure two of the four seats in the recent by-elections, a result viewed as a partial reaffirmation of Han Dong-hoon’s leadership and his pledge to thoroughly address the controversies involving the first lady. In response to the election outcomes, Han has called for a significant reshuffle within the presidential office, aiming to reduce the influence of those closely aligned with the first lady.
The recent decision by the prosecution not to indict Kim Keon Hee over her alleged involvement in stock manipulation between 2009 and 2012 has sparked further controversy. The opposition DP has reacted strongly, proposing a bill to initiate a special counsel investigation into the allegations, marking the third attempt at such a measure af
ter two previous proposals were vetoed by President Yoon.