How President Lee’s Luncheon with Minor Parties Aims to Bridge Political Polarization in 2026

(The CEN News / Reporter Joo Jin-no) President Lee Jae-myung urged overcoming political polarization and emphasized the role of non-major party groups.

On April 6, President Lee invited representatives from non-major party groups — the Patriotic Innovation Party, the Progressive Party, the Reform New Party and the Social Democratic Party — along with independent members of the National Assembly to a luncheon at the Blue House.

Senior Blue House spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said in a briefing that the president told the gathering, “We need to overcome political polarization,” and stressed the important role that non-major party groups play in the National Assembly.

At the closed luncheon, participants exchanged updates on the status of bill reviews in standing committees. In his closing remarks, the president thanked attendees for their cooperation in expediting the supplementary budget.

Spokesperson Kang said the president noted that in a political landscape dominated by two major parties, non-major parties serve as a lubricant for the system. She added that, especially on diplomatic matters, officials must put national interests first regardless of political polarization.

In remarks released to the press, the president said, “It’s hard to find other countries that engage in self-harming behavior on foreign affairs and security, but unfortunately we still seem to have some of those elements. I ask that those handling external relations adopt a public-minded stance.” He called for bipartisan cooperation on foreign-policy issues.

At the luncheon, Reform New Party floor leader Cheon Ha-ram proposed that the state assume responsibility for legal cases involving teachers, so teachers are not summoned to court following accidents.

Spokesperson Kang said the president did not give a direct response at the meeting but noted that stronger protections for teachers involved in safety incidents during field trips are consistent with his views. She said officials are considering measures to provide teachers with legal support during litigation.

Lee Hae-min of the Patriotic Innovation Party pledged to support the Lee administration’s strategy to position South Korea among the world’s top three AI powers. Progressive Party lawmaker Jeon Jong-deok raised the need for reform of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup).

Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Joo-young spoke about healthcare reform, and Progressive Party lawmaker Jung Hye-kyung described the practical challenges that unions face.

Spokesperson Kang quoted Park Eun-jung of the Patriotic Innovation Party as saying, “I ran for the legislature to pursue prosecutorial reform, and it seems this government has achieved a great deal. We will work to do even more going forward.”

Photo: Yonhap News, Blue House

(The CEN News) Reporter Joo Jin-no eveleva@naver.com