President Yoon invites DP leader Lee Jae-myung to Yongsan

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday called the liberal Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung to invite him to the presidential office next week, the presidential office said.

President Yoon talked over the phone with Lee for five minutes from 3:30 p.m. Friday, asking the DP leader to meet him in Yongsan next week if he is available.

“Let’s first meet to start communicating, discuss state affairs and have teas and meals together,” Yoon said, according to Lee Do-woon, senior presidential secretary for public relations.

The president also congratulated the DP leader and his party elects during the phone call.

The DP leader thanked Yoon for the invitation and "extending his consideration," saying his party should be helpful to the president's work, the presidential office said.

The meeting of Lee and Yoon next week would mark the first such encounter since the president began his term in May 2022.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]