President Lee Jae-myung held a luncheon meeting with the Democratic Party of Korea advisory group on the 21st, receiving advice on various aspects of governance, including diplomacy and security, the economy, and political reform. The elders urged the government to play an active role in advancing inter-Korean dialogue through adjustments to the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises. They also called for the restoration of dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties, emphasizing the need for flexible responses from the government.
The meeting held in the presidential office was attended by advisory members Kwon No-gap and Lee Yong-deok, former National Assembly Speakers Kim Won-ki, Lim Chae-jung, Jung Se-kyun, Moon Hee-sang, Park Byeong-seok, Kim Jin-pyo, former leader Lee Hae-chan, and Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young. Attending from the presidential office were Chief of Staff Kang Hoon and Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho.
According to Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho, the elders recommended that, given North Korea's sensitivity to the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, there should be effective dialogue to facilitate progress in inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korean discussions through adjustments to these exercises.
Regarding the upcoming U.S.-South Korea summit scheduled for the 25th, they stated, "This should serve as an opportunity to develop the U.S.-South Korea relationship into a technology and economic alliance," and advised, "I hope that meeting with President Trump, you will encourage dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea to promote changes in the situation on the Korean Peninsula."
On the issue of inter-Korean relations, while expressing concern over North Korea's sharp reactions, they urged, "Given that such responses have typically been shown in past experiences, we ask that you maintain patience and create avenues for dialogue."
Regarding current political issues, they noted, "Dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties is the most important means of politics that cannot be overlooked," and requested, "When the opposition leadership is established, please actively push for dialogue."
Concerning judicial reform, advice was given that "the president must be determined to carry it out," while related to constitutional discussions, they suggested, "The president should carefully observe the discussions on the opening of the National Assembly and support them, ensuring that the discussion involves public participation for it to be meaningful."
Economic issues were also significantly addressed. The elders remarked, "The current economic situation is serious," and advised, "The government should boldly support manufacturing through proactive fiscal measures." They added, "If the manufacturing ecosystem collapses, it will not be possible to revive corporations even when a boom occurs later."
In response, President Lee noted, "I will keep in mind the various advice and refer to it well to reflect it in policies," according to Woo Sang-ho.