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Lee urges against 'self-destruction behavior' in diplomacy at luncheon with lawmakers

Published: 29 Apr. 2026, 19:06

SARAH KIM
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President Lee Jae Myung, second from right, speaks during a luncheon with 21 minor party and independent lawmakers at the Blue House in central Seoul on April 29. [YONHAP]

President Lee Jae Myung called for bipartisan cooperation in diplomatic and security matters, urging against "self-destruction behavior" as he spoke to independent and minor party lawmakers on Wednesday.

"It is rare to find instances where countries engage in self-destructive behavior, especially in the fields of diplomacy and security, even if they argue over domestic matters due to differing opinions," Lee said in a luncheon meeting with 21 lawmakers at the Blue House in Seoul.

His remarks come as the rival ruling Democratic Party (DP) and main opposition People Power Party (PPP) have clashed over prickly diplomatic issues impacting South Korea-U.S. relations, including alleged political pressure regarding a probe into e-commerce giant Coupang.

"The external situation is very unfavorable," Lee said. "While we can overcome domestic issues on our own, the deterioration of the diplomatic environment is not easy to resolve unilaterally."

Lee noted that this is "unfortunately" not the case in South Korea, adding that it is "not to say that the people here are like that," in remarks that appeared to target the main opposition PPP. He then asked lawmakers to "approach external issues from a public standpoint."

The rival parties have often accused each other of dragging diplomatic relations into political clashes.

International ties have recently come under strain by a series of flashpoints between Seoul and Washington, such as reported U.S. protests of Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's public mention of a North Korean uranium enrichment facility in Kusong and partial restrictions on satellite intelligence sharing with South Korea.

The PPP likewise has been critical of the Coupang probe. On Tuesday, the DP sent a protest letter to Washington after a group of 54 Republican lawmakers sent a letter requesting that Seoul halt what they described as "discriminatory regulations" and political pressure on U.S. companies amid heightened tensions over the investigation into a massive data leak by the e-commerce platform.

Earlier this month, PPP chief Jang Dong-hyeok made a weeklong visit to the United States and met with lawmakers and officials, a trip that faced backlash for its timing ahead of the local elections in June.

During his trip to the United States, Jang said on April 23 that Unification Minister Chung "has committed serious acts of self-harm regarding diplomacy and national security," adding that he "must be dismissed immediately." The following day, the 107 lawmakers of the PPP filed a motion recommending Chung's dismissal.

President Lee Jae Myung, front row center, poses for a commemorative photo with 21 minor party and independent lawmakers invited to a luncheon at the Blue House in central Seoul on April 29. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

During the hourlong luncheon, Lee repeatedly emphasized that "foreign affairs must be centered on national interests, regardless of political polarization," seen as a call for bipartisan cooperation.

"The field of foreign affairs and national security is where the interests of South Korea are most acutely addressed," Kang Yu-jung, the senior presidential spokesperson, said during a press briefing. However, she avoided directly answering a reporter's question about whether Lee's remarks referred to any particular incident, political party or individual.

She said that Lee, in his concluding remarks, stressed that minor party and independent lawmakers "act as a lubricant in a political landscape characterized by polarization centered on two major parties."

The Blue House said the meeting was meant to encourage "inclusive communication" and bipartisan cooperation to address livelihood issues and the parliamentary process. Lee thanked the lawmakers for the swift passage of a supplementary bill recently in light of the economic hardships stemming from the Middle East crisis.

The attendees included two independents and 19 representatives from the Rebuilding Korea Party, the Basic Income Party, the Jinbo Party and the Social Democratic Party and the Reform Party — the first time Lee has hosted such an event for just minor party and independent lawmakers at the Blue House.

BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]