President Yoon Suk Yeol walks with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Han Dong-hoon, left, and PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, right, after their dinner meeting at a garden in front of the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of presidential office Party leaders divided over who is to blame for “fruitless” dinner By Kwak Yeon-soo President Yoon Suk Yeol's dinner with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) leadership ended without a one-on-one meeting with PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, thereby hinting at the possibility of a growing rift in the ruling party. Han had requested a private session with Yoon on the sidelines of the dinner meeting to discuss pressing issues, such as the impasse over the current medical reform by the government and controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee, but the presidential office rejected it, saying that separate coordination is needed to arrange such a meeting.
Han reportedly expressed his desire again to have a private conversation with Yoon at a later date. Tensions have risen after Han, once considered one of Yoon's close confidants during their time as prosecutors, diverged from Yoon on medical reform plans by calling for a delay in the 2026 medical school quota hike to help resolve the impasse between the government and groups representing doctors. Controversies surrounding the first lady, including allegations of stock manipulation and graft involving a luxury handbag, have also caused problems.
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