Yoon, new PPP chief Han Dong-hoon stress harmony in dinner for new party leadership President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, locks hands with new People Power Party Chairman Han Dong-hoon for a commemorative photo ahead of a dinner for the PPP’s new leadership in front of the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul on Thursday evening. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE] In a two-hour dinner meeting Wednesday with the new leadership of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), including its newly elected chief Han Dong-hoon, President Yoon Suk Yeol called for "harmony" between the party and the government. Yoon hosted a banquet from 6:30 p.
m. to 8:20 p.m.
for the PPP's leadership at Pine Grass, a garden in front of the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul, also attended by newly elected supreme council members, floor leader Choo Kyung-ho and candidates who ran in the party leadership race. It took place just one day after Han, the former PPP interim chief, was elected as the party's new chairman in a decisive victory in its national convention. At the banquet, Yoon congratulated the launch of the new PPP leadership and pledged to work in harmony with the party to revive the people's livelihood and successfully complete reform tasks, presidential spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon said in a statement.
During the meal, Yoon and Han took so-called "love shots," drinking out of their individual glasses with their arms crossed. Yoon's glass was filled with beer and Han's with Coke Zero, as he doesn't drink alcohol. This gesture is viewed by political observers as reflecting their intention to dispel concerns about reports of a conflict between the two that arose in the lead up to the April 10 general election and pursued through the national convention.
The banquet was held with a friendly atmosphere, according the presidential office, stressing a message of unity. Yoon shook hands Han, who was waiting for him in the front lawn, and offered him words of encouragement. "Thank you for your hard work," Yoon told Han.
Yoon was said to have repeated a message of "sticking together" throughout the meal, calling on the party to unite and put behind the rivalries in the national convention. "I will do my best for the success of the president, the Yoon Suk Yeol government and the revamping of the government," Han replied. Yoon referred to the new PPP chief and "our Han Dong-hoon" throughout the event, rekindling their old camaraderie, telling stories of their time working together as prosecutors.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, center right, claps during a dinner for the People Power Party’s new leadership at Pine Grass, a garden in front of the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul, on Thursday evening. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE] Han's contenders in the PPP leadership race on Monday – former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong, Rep. Na Kyung-won and Rep.
Yoon Sang-hyun – attended the dinner, as did new supreme council members including Ihn Yohan, a doctor who became the country's first special naturalized citizen and served as the PPP's innovation committee chairman last year. The president also asked the three contenders who lost against Han in the chairmanship race to put behind the convention and said, "Let's be considerate of each other and unite." The three failed PPP leadership candidates likewise pledged their intention to unite the party and government.
"Let us all become the president's chief spokesperson," Na said. In turn, Won stressed, "We are one team," while Rep. Yoon said that the "president's success is the party's success and everyone's success.
" During his closing remarks, President Yoon said, "We must become one in the future and help Chairman Han Dong-hoon to do well. When there is any difficulty, those around him should help and not leave him to solve it alone." The dinner menu, personally selected by Yoon, included pork belly, pork ribs and ssam, a Korean dish is comprised of wrapping meat, rice and condiments in lettuce or other leafy vegetables, as a symbol of harmony.
According to the presidential office, "Samgyeopsal (pork belly) symbolizes the unity of the party, government and presidential office, and is a representative Korean food eaten among close friends, and also signifies informal communication and dialogue." Han, Yoon's former justice minister and trusted confidant dating from their time as senior and junior prosecutors, took over as the PPP's interim leader in December last year. However, ahead of the general election, Yoon and Han reportedly faced a rocky patch in relations after clashing over issues including election nominations and the handling of allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee accepted a luxury bag from a pastor.
Han stepped down as PPP interim chief to take responsible for the party's election crushing defeat to the liberal Democratic Party in April. It has been almost six months since Yoon and Han had an official meal since their luncheon on Jan. 29.
Han declined Yoon's offer to meet for a meal in mid-April, after the general election, for health reasons. Most senior presidential officials, including National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin, took part in Wednesday's dinner. However first lady Kim, who was questioned by prosecution on Sunday over her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation case and for accepting a luxury handbag from a pastor, didn't.
There was no discussion of deeper political issues during the event, and Yoon and Han reportedly didn't have separate talks. However, the two agreed to hold a private meeting at a later date. BY SARAH KIM [kim.
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