The leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) held their first official talks Sunday.

PPP leader Han Dong-hoon and Lee Jae-myung, who was reelected as the chief of the DP in August, met for a 90-minute meeting that began at the National Assembly at 2 p.m. Sunday.

In opening remarks delivered ahead of a closed-door session, Han called for carrying out political reform as well as scrapping a planned investment tax policy.

“Since Chairman Lee has also raised the need for limiting parliamentary immunity several times, now is the time to push for it when leaders of both parties agree on it,” Han said.

Leaders of ruling, main opposition parties

Leaders of ruling, main opposition parties

Han Dong-hoon (R), leader of the ruling People Power Party, and Lee Jae-myung, chief of the main opposition Democratic Party, shake hands ahead of their first official talks at the National Assembly on Sept. 1, 2024. (Yonhap)

Lee, meanwhile, said the rival parties should wor
k together to resolve the ongoing health care crisis and also consider easing the investment tax policy for a certain period.

Han and Lee were initially scheduled to meet last Sunday but their talks were postponed after Lee tested positive for COVID-19.

It marked the first time that the two held official talks as chiefs of the ruling and main opposition parties, and the first such meeting between the rival parties since 2013.

They previously met briefly on Dec. 29 when Han took office as the party’s interim leader and paid a courtesy visit to Lee, but no current agenda items were discussed at that time.

Source: Yonhap News Agency