President Lee Jae-myung and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik emphasized cooperation between the legislative and executive branches during a banquet on the 17th.
The banquet was held at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul, in celebration of the 77th anniversary of Constitution Day. Attendees included Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Kang Hoon, head of the presidential secretariat.
President Lee remarked during his opening statement, "I am glad that the National Assembly seems to be functioning smoothly thanks to the high leadership of the Speaker in such a complicated situation," adding, "I appreciate the National Assembly for swiftly and smoothly handling personnel and budget matters from the executive's perspective."
He continued, "Today has special meaning as it is Constitution Day," and added, "You are realizing popular sovereignty on behalf of the National Assembly. We will provide our full support."
In response, Speaker Woo noted, "I consider it very meaningful that the President invited the representatives of the legislative branch on a day to reflect on the values of the Constitution," and said, "I hope we can have such gatherings more often in the future."
Speaker Woo emphasized that it took 1 year and 2 months to come here, noting that the presidential residence and the Speaker's official residence are right next to each other, highlighting how there was almost no interaction with former President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration.
He also said, "It has been a month and a half since the new administration was launched, and it is encouraging to see that the blocked areas have started to open up a bit thanks to the President's active efforts."
Moreover, Speaker Woo stressed regarding recent flood damage caused by heavy rainfall, "A very important duty of the state is to protect the lives and safety of its citizens," asserting that "the government and the National Assembly must work together to do our utmost to prevent any harm to the people."
He added, "There are many issues that the National Assembly must tackle together, and there are many difficulties in diplomatic matters, so both the National Assembly and the government should unite to resolve them effectively."
He then emphasized that, "Next time, I will host you at the Speaker's residence," indicating a commitment to ongoing communication.
The banquet menu included sweet and sour chicken rolled in lettuce, clear crab tofu soup, grilled rockfish with salt, and beef ribs. The banquet hall featured a folding screen depicting a royal banquet scene from the Joseon dynasty, along with the presidential flag and the national flag.