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A final opportunity to resolve the first lady risk

Published: 20 Oct. 2024, 19:41

The long-awaited meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon is to be held this afternoon. The meeting comes nearly one month after Han demanded an exclusive meeting in September from the president. But it will take the form of a three-way meeting, including Yoon’s chief of staff Chung Jin-seok. But the format of the meeting won’t matter as long as the two leaders exchange their views frankly.

Today’s meeting at the presidential office will mark a watershed moment in the ongoing crisis from the deepening risks from first lady Kim Keon Hee. In the National Assembly’s Oct. 4 revote on a special motion to investigate the first lady’s alleged corruption and intervention in state affairs, at least four PPP lawmakers supported the motion. Public sentiment against her worsened after another controversy erupted over the sensitive chats between a self-proclaimed “power broker” and the first lady. The special motion will most likely be vetoed by the president and go through a revote again. Given the worsening public sentiment toward the first lady, more than four PPP representatives could support the special probe this time.

Yoon and Han must draw a solution to calm the public outrage. If today’s meeting ends with no tangible results, it will spell a crisis for the PPP. The conservative government also will suffer irreparable damage. The president and the PPP leader must share a sense of crisis for their political future.

The PPP leader already demanded a colossal personnel reshuffle in the presidential office, a suspension of the first lady’s external activities and her cooperation on addressing all the risks from her. But what really matters is the president’s determination. The majority Democratic Party (DP) and liberal groups are openly calling for a presidential impeachment. If the president wants to turn the situation around, he must demonstrate a strong determination to tackle the challenge.

If today’s meeting is to succeed, the role of the presidential chief of staff is very important. Chung, a five-term lawmaker and a former journalist, is sensitive to public opinion, as seen in his career as the senior presidential secretary for political affairs under the Lee Myung-bak administration. He is wise enough to know how to overcome the ongoing crisis.

Considering the vertical chain of command while both Yoon and Han served as prosecutors, it could be difficult to expect a candid conversation between the two, particularly given their past misunderstandings. But it can give room for Chung to mediate between the two for a compromise. Chung must do his best to put the presidential office and the government back on track before it’s too late.