Yoon discusses UAE trip in meeting with party leaders

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at a joint policy briefing at the Blue House in central Seoul Thursday morning ahead of a luncheon with leadership of the People Power Party (PPP). [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol held a luncheon meeting with the leadership of the People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday to discuss follow-up measures to his trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland last week and focus on other key policies of his administration.

He also told senior PPP lawmakers that he will attend the party's upcoming national convention on March 8 to replace the current interim leadership.

Yoon especially stressed the importance of securing a $30 billion investment pledge during his state visit to the UAE, according to PPP spokesperson Yang Geum-hee, who attended the meeting.

"The president said that the UAE asked Korea to take care of the details, such as where and how to make actual investments," Yang told reporters at the National Assembly following the luncheon.

She added that the presidential office is currently in the process of creating a task force focused on the UAE investments in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance as a part of follow-up measures to the agreements sealed during the UAE trip.

Yoon held a bilateral summit with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Jan. 15, with the two leaders adopting a joint statement the following day in which the UAE pledged to invest $30 billion in strategic sectors in Korea using its sovereign wealth funds.

Strategic sectors could include nuclear power, energy and defense.

The president later carried on his economic diplomacy efforts during a visit to Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos and meet with Korean and global business leaders.

Senior PPP lawmakers including interim chief Chung Jin-suk, floor leader Joo Ho-young, chief policymaker Sung Il-jong and secretary general Kim Seok-ki attended the two-hour luncheon.

Also attending were key presidential aides such as chief of staff Kim Dae-ki, National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han and senior presidential secretary for political affairs Lee Jin-bok.

The last meeting between Yoon and the PPP leadership was around two months ago, a dinner held at the president's new residence in Hannam-dong in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Nov. 25.

Yang told reporters that Yoon didn't specifically remark on the upcoming national convention during the luncheon.

However, when PPP interim chief Chung asked Yoon to attend the March 8 convention, Yoon agreed.

"Many party members will gather in the festive event, and I will attend to share greetings," Yoon was quoted as saying by Yang.

The meeting comes a day after former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, a leading PPP contender, dropped out of the leadership race Wednesday ahead of the national convention.

PPP members close to Yoon have been supportive of Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, a former floor leader.

Na dropped out of the race after being sacked from two presidential posts earlier this month.

Some party members have been concerned that Na running for the leadership race would split conservative votes between her and Kim.

Kim is expected to face off against another leading contender Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a moderate.

Yoon also discussed cooperation from the PPP to implement his administration's key state affairs policy, including three major reforms in labor, education and pension.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]