President Lee Jae-myung Emphasizes 'Cooperation' in First National Assembly Address, Reaching Out to Opposition

On the 26th, 22 days after taking office, President Lee Jae-myung visited the National Assembly for a plenary session, demonstrating his willingness to cooperate by continuously directing his gaze towards the members of the People Power Party (PPP) during his address.

Dressed in a blue suit and a white striped tie, President Lee entered the plenary hall around 10:06 a.m. to explain the supplementary budget bill.

In a respectful greeting directed at the members of the PPP, who had been feeling cold due to the tumultuous confirmation hearing of Prime Minister candidate Kim Min-seok the day before, President Lee expressed his gratitude, stating, "I sincerely appreciate our members of the People Power Party for being here in such a difficult situation."

To the right of the President were the ministers from the 'Yoon Suk-yeol administration,' while members of the former ruling party, the People Power Party, were seated to the left.

Efforts to Ease the Tense Atmosphere with Impromptu Remarks

Commencing his speech with, "Dear citizens and esteemed Chairman Woo Won-sik and members of the National Assembly," President Lee quickly turned his gaze toward the PPP members.

Particularly when explaining the rationale behind the supplementary budget, he constantly focused on the opposition lawmakers.

About six minutes into the address, when Democratic Party members gave their first applause for the statement, "There are no colors in diplomacy; the only criteria should be whether it is in the national interest," President Lee responded, "Thank you. Our members of the People Power Party are not reacting, which makes it a bit awkward for me," trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.

"Thank you. Our members of the People Power Party are not reacting, which makes it a bit awkward for me."

During the approximately 20-minute speech, Democratic Party members applauded 12 times, while the members of the PPP remained entirely unresponsive.

Nevertheless, President Lee emphasized cooperation by saying, "One cannot benefit by breaking the rules, and creating a fair society cannot be achieved without everyone's cooperation," and "If we acknowledge and embrace small differences, we can make a fresh start," seeking agreement from the opposition members.

Directly Requesting Cooperation on the Supplementary Budget

As he detailed the items in the supplementary budget, President Lee spontaneously stated, "Especially if there are any necessary budget items or if you are focused on cuts, please feel free to share any additions you deem necessary, anytime." He made a direct request for cooperation from the PPP members.

After concluding his address, President Lee walked directly toward the PPP seats, shaking hands with members starting from Han Ji-a, followed by Jin Jong-o, Park Jeong-hoon, Lim Jong-deok, In Yo-han, Park Jeong-ha, and Song Eon-seok, the floor leader. He approached them first with a bow.

He continued to shake hands individually with pro-Yoon faction members such as Chu Kyung-ho, Kwon Seong-dong, Yoon Sang-hyun, and Na Kyung-won, expressing gestures of unity.

When entering, President Lee also shook hands sequentially with Democratic Party members including Park Chan-dae, Choo Mi-ae, Ahn Gyu-baek (Minister of National Defense nominee), and Kim Byung-ki (floor leader), demonstrating an inclusive approach toward both parties.

This address served as a practical demonstration of President Lee's commitment to 'cooperation,' which he has emphasized throughout his tenure.

Image source: President Lee Jae-myung delivers the government’s statement on the second supplementary budget for 2025 during the second plenary session of the 426th National Assembly held in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th. / News1, News1