Yoon of South Korea to Hold Meeting with Opposition Leader in Effort to Reset Presidency

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to meet with opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Monday in the wake of a significant election defeat for Yoon’s ruling party. The People Power Party (PPP) suffered a setback in the recent election, prompting calls for Yoon to reconsider his leadership approach.

Analysts have suggested that Yoon may have entered a “lame duck” status following the election, as his confrontational political style has alienated many voters. Both the opposition and members of the PPP have urged Yoon to change course in light of the election results, which saw his support ratings plummet to around 20%.

The meeting between Yoon and Lee is seen as a crucial opportunity for the president to regain momentum for his policy agenda, which includes tax cuts, business regulation reforms, and support for families in an aging society. However, Yoon also faces challenges in the healthcare sector, as doctors have been on strike for over two months in protest against proposed reforms.

Despite the high stakes of the meeting, there are doubts about whether any significant breakthroughs can be achieved to break the current political deadlock. Lee’s Democratic Party (DP) holds a strong majority in parliament, limiting Yoon’s ability to pass legislation.

The meeting between Yoon and Lee has been marked by political wrangling, with disagreements over the agenda and timing. Lee has proposed a meeting with no preconditions, while also advocating for a one-time allowance for all South Koreans to combat inflation—a proposal that the PPP has criticized as populist and financially unsustainable.

As South Korea grapples with political uncertainty and economic challenges, all eyes are on the outcome of Monday’s meeting between Yoon and Lee.