The People Power Party proposed a meeting between the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to discuss state affairs to Lee Jae-myung, including a special counsel investigation into the Unification Church and nomination bribery and the withdrawal of the nomination of Minister of Planning and Budget nominee Lee Hye-hoon.
Song Eon-seog, the People Power Party floor leader, held a press briefing at the National Assembly on the morning of the 16th and said, "We expect President Lee to respond to a major shift in the policy line. In particular, we propose a one-on-one meeting between the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to discuss this."
He added, "Since yesterday (the 15th), Jang Dong-hyeok's hunger strike calling for what is being called the 'double special counsel'—a special counsel on the Unification Church and a special counsel on the Democratic Party of Korea's nomination bribery—has continued," and said, "Today (the 16th) is not the time for a leisurely 'luncheon show.' President Lee should go to the hunger strike site of the main opposition party leader, take their hand, and listen carefully to what the opposition desperately demands."
At the briefing, Floor Leader Song called for: ▲ full acceptance of the "double special counsel" on the Unification Church and nomination bribery ▲ exercise of the right to request reconsideration of the second comprehensive special counsel bill ▲ an order for the police to conduct a stern investigation into corruption by Democratic Party figures ▲ complete withdrawal of the Oct. 15 real estate policy ▲ a tripartite meeting of the ruling party, opposition party, and government to amend the yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers, and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection ▲ withdrawal of the nomination of Lee Hye-hoon ▲ suspension of promotion of "judicial reform bills," including a constitutional complaint system.
Floor Leader Song said, "How grueling, desperate, and heartfelt must it be for Leader Jang to choose to cut off food," noting, "It is proof that (the Lee Jae-myung administration) is interested only in suppressing the opposition and political retaliation against the opposition, including the main opposition party."
Jeong Jeom-sik, the People Power Party policy committee chair, said, "At today's scheduled luncheon between the ruling and opposition leadership, choose acceptance of a special counsel, not a 'shield luncheon,'" adding, "(The alleged Unification Church political funds and nomination bribery) are not mere allegations; they are a grave issue directly tied to President Lee's morality and abuse of power."