President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, is seen at the April 19 National Cemetery in northern Seoul on Friday after paying tribute to fallen democracy protesters. Courtesy of Presidential Office-Yonhap

A crisis is an opportunity in disguise. Great leaders, particularly in the private sector, have reaffirmed the enduring truth of this adage by propelling their enterprises forward, overcoming what were once deemed insurmountable crises.

The present moment calls for President Yoon Suk Yeol to heed the lessons from the private sector, averting further national turmoil and salvaging his imperiled presidency.

Yoon has been reeling from the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) crushing defeat in the April 10 elections. His approval rating has plummeted to a record low 23 percent in the latest Gallup poll, down 11 percentage points from the previous survey.

Yoon faces the task of finding a political breakthrough. That task, albeit daunting, is not impossible. To make it happen, he should change his course of action. Yoon has been facing mounting calls to seek support from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which will continue to control the National Assembly for another four years thanks to the 175 seats it obtained in the April 10 parliamentary elections.

Yoon answered those calls.

He will meet DPK leader Lee Jae-myung sometime next week for the first time since being sworn in as president on May 10, 2022.

The Yoon-Lee meeting should not end up being a one-off political event. Yoon needs to keep trying to reach out to the DPK, to build ties with its leader, so that they can work together to pass major bills related to the livelihood of the public.

The Yoon-Lee meeting was proposed amid concerns that a parliamentary deadlock will be inevitable during the 22nd National Assembly.

A triumphant DPK is ready to step up attacks against Yoon to paralyze his presidency. It vowed to pursue two bills aimed at establishing special counsels to probe first lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged stock manipulation and suspicions that senior military officials interfered in an investigation into the tragic death of a Marine during flood relief operations last year.

Yoon must seize the upcoming meeting with the DPK leader as a pivotal opportunity to coordinate policy. As he himself has emphasized, Yoon should contemplate regular engagements with the main opposition leader, irrespective of the meeting format, to foster ongoing coordination.

In a brief phone conversation with Lee on Friday, Yoon expressed his willingness to meet more often, saying he is not concerned about the format and that it could even be over a casual cup of tea or lunch.

This is a much-needed approach. In a divided government where the head of state faces a parliament controlled by the opposition, the leaders of the two top parties should meet frequently, exchange their positions about major policy areas and make efforts to find room for cooperation. Both sides need to make concessions, if necessary, for the greater good of the nation.

A parliamentary deadlock, fueled by partisan politics, over the course of Yoon's remaining three years in office, serves no one's interests. This would be fatal for Yoon as there is almost nothing he can do without opposition support.

A paralyzed parliament would equally harm the main opposition party, as the largest political group bears responsibility for the welfare of the public.

Partisan politics-driven policies will hurt the nation. This is so particularly when the nation is grappling with multiple challenges both at home and abroad. The widening war in the Middle East has already dealt a blow to the Korean economy, rattling the stock and foreign exchange markets. The nation has already been bracing for possible geopolitical developments in Asia since North Korea strengthened military cooperation with Russia.

Domestic headaches are also mounting. Pension and labor reforms, among others, require both major parties to sit down and negotiate viable solutions.

In Korean politics, bipartisan measures are rare and hard to come by. Short-sighted politicians often stoke anger to mobilize voter support, resorting to populist policies as a means to ensure their political survival. Luring voters with populist ideas is easier than seeking bipartisan measures to win voters' hearts. Under such a political climate, politicians with a long-term vision have difficultly surviving. Several competent politicians were sidelined in the selections of candidates to run in the April 10 elections.

Yoon stands at a critical juncture.

If he poorly manages the current circumstances, his presidency can be cut short. He, however, could become an agent of change if he can demonstrate the art of statecraft. To accomplish this, he must shift his mindset to demonstrate sincere respect and a willingness to collaborate with the DPK as a parliamentary partner.

The same principle applies to the DPK.

It also bears the responsibility of acting as a responsible party and cooperating with the president, given its status as the largest party, to steer the nation in the right direction. It should stop criticizing for the sake of criticizing and renew itself as an entity that cares about the future of this country.