After his party suffered a defeat in the election, South Korea’s president discusses cooperation with opposition party

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and liberal opposition leader Lee Jae-myung met on Monday to discuss reviving bipartisan cooperation following Yoon’s conservative party’s recent defeat in parliamentary elections. This marked their first meeting since Yoon took office in 2022 after narrowly defeating Lee in a contentious presidential election.

During their campaigns, Yoon and Lee engaged in heated exchanges and legal battles, but now they are seeking common ground to address pressing issues facing the country. Yoon proposed the meeting amid calls for cooperation with Lee’s Democratic Party, which secured a victory in the parliamentary elections, extending their control of the National Assembly.

The meeting, held without a set agenda, aimed to address public livelihood improvements and collaboration on state affairs. Additionally, discussions were expected to focus on resolving the ongoing strikes by junior doctors, which have caused delays in medical services.

Lee may also raise demands for special investigations into allegations involving Yoon’s wife and top officials, as well as propose economic measures such as providing financial assistance to all South Koreans. The results of the meeting are anticipated to be announced separately by the presidential office and the Democratic Party.

Despite facing challenges with low approval ratings and an opposition-controlled parliament, Yoon’s foreign policy priorities, including trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan to address North Korea’s nuclear threats, are expected to remain unchanged. The parliamentary elections served as a test of Yoon’s leadership, with critics attributing the defeat to economic issues and Yoon’s handling of scandals within his administration.