Lee Jae-myung Tests Positive for COVID-19, DelayingKey Inter-Party Talks
Seoul, August 22, 2024 – The highly anticipated meeting between the leaders of South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties has been postponed after Lee Jae-myung,leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, tested positive for COVID-19. The meeting, originally scheduled for August 25th, was intended to bea significant step towards rebuilding political trust and ending partisan gridlock.
Lee Jae-myung, who also serves as the Democratic Party’s chairman, received a positive COVID-19 test result on Tuesday morning after experiencing mild cold symptoms. He immediately informed the ruling People Power Party (PPP) of his condition and requested the postponement of the meeting. The PPP, led by Chairman Han Dong-hoon, agreed to the request.
“This morning, Chairman LeeJae-myung experienced mild cold symptoms and took a self-test, which came back positive,” a Democratic Party official told reporters. He immediately contacted the People Power Party to propose a postponement of the meeting.
Han Dong-hoon expressed his disappointment at the postponement but wished Lee Jae-myung a speedy recovery. We received news from the Democratic Party that Chairman Lee Jae-myung has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and will be unable to attend the meeting, Han said during a meeting with the PPP’s highest committee. We hope Chairman Lee recovers quickly. We believe this postponement will allow both parties toprepare more thoroughly for a meeting that will benefit the people, rebuild political trust, and ultimately declare an end to partisan conflict.
The two parties will now work to reschedule the meeting. A Democratic Party official stated that the secretaries-general of both parties will coordinate the new date once Lee Jae-myung has recovered.
The meeting was expected to be the first of its kind since the inauguration of President Yoon Suk-yeol in May 2022. It was seen as a crucial step towards bridging the deep political divide that has plagued South Korea for years. The two parties were expected to discuss a rangeof issues, including economic recovery, social welfare, and national security.
The postponement comes as a setback for both parties, who were hoping to demonstrate their commitment to cooperation and compromise. The meeting was particularly significant given the upcoming 2024 general elections, where both parties are vying for control of the NationalAssembly.
The delay also disrupts Lee Jae-myung’s schedule. He had planned to visit the widow of former President Roh Moo-hyun, Kwon Yang-sook, and former President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday, but these visits have also been postponed due to his COVID-19 diagnosis.
The postponement highlights the ongoing challenges of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, even as the country has largely returned to normalcy. It also serves as a reminder of the fragility of political progress in South Korea, where partisan divisions remain deep and entrenched.
The rescheduled meeting will now be a key test ofthe two parties’ willingness to work together and find common ground. The outcome of the meeting will have a significant impact on the political landscape in South Korea, particularly as the country prepares for the upcoming elections.
【来源】https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20240822001500881?section=politics/index&input=rss
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