President Yoon Suk Yeol and ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon might hold talks after the Oct. 16 by-election next week, according to the presidential office on Thursday. The Yoon administration and the ruling party "are communicating with each other over the matter," a source at the presidential office said on condition of anonymity.
Also, the presidential office is reportedly open to a one-on-one meeting with Han, a format Yoon has long disapproved of. The meeting would occur after the by-elections scheduled on Wednesday where those eligible will vote to elect the superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education; the Geumjeong-gu Office head in Busan; the heads of Gokseong-gun and Yeonggwang-gun in South Jeolla Province and the Ganghwa-gun head in Incheon. The comment came amid calls from conservatives on South Korea's leader to mend fences with his confidante-turned-dissenting ruling party chief despite persisting differences particularly amid the continuing controversies surrounding Yoon's wife.
Yoon and Han last met at a group dinner meeting, involving Yoon's aides and the People Power Party's newly-elected leaders. Han did not show up when Yoon on Sunday departed South Korea for his ongoing weeklong trip to Southeast Asia. Han cited prescheduled election campaigning for the by-election in Busan.
Controversies surrounding Yoon's wife Kim Keon Hee will likely top the agenda, should the meeting take place, according to reports. Opposition parties hav.