President Yoon Suk Yeol and ruling People Power Party (PPP) Han Dong-hoon walk side by side toward the venue of their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of presidential office

The leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) urged President Yoon Suk Yeol to address controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee to alleviate public concerns regarding her, the PPP said, Monday.

PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon urged Yoon to take specific measures, including recommending that the first lady suspend her public activities, calling for a reshuffle of aides in the presidential office who allegedly wield influence beyond their authority, and suggesting the appointment of a special inspector to oversee matters related to Kim. These points were shared by PPP Secretary General, Rep. Park Jeong-ha, at the National Assembly.

The recommendations came during an 80-minute meeting between Yoon and Han at the presidential office in Seoul, which was also attended by presidential secretary Chung Jin-suk.

"During the meeting with the president, Han emphasized the need for bold changes and reforms in response to the worsening public sentiment and political climate," Park said.

"Regarding matters involving the first lady, Han reiterated the three previously proposed measures: a personnel reshuffle at the presidential office, halting her public activities, and clarifying and resolving allegations against her, along with the need to appoint a special inspector," Park said.

Kim has been mired in multiple controversies, including her acceptance of a luxury Dior bag from a Korean American pastor, alleged involvement in stock manipulation involving Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer, and accusations of interfering with the PPP's candidate nominations for the April general elections.

Han also emphasized the urgent need to quickly establish a consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties, the government, and medical professionals to resolve a standoff over the government's medical reform plan, he added.

When asked about the president's responses to Han's requests, the ruling party's secretary general said, "It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the president's answers or reactions, as I was not present at the meeting."

President Yoon Suk Yeol and ruling People Power Party Han Dong-hoon talk during their meeting at the presidential office, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of presidential office

The presidential office said Yoon and Han sat across from each during their formal discussion, with Chung seated to Han's left.

The meeting started later than scheduled because of Yoon's earlier diplomatic engagements that afternoon, which included a phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

This meeting was the first private discussion between the two in about two and a half months, following a closed-door conversation on July 30 that lasted approximately 90 minutes and included the presidential chief of staff.

Although there were group dinners between Yoon and the leadership members of the ruling party on July 24 and Sept. 24, Han did not have a separate one-on-one meeting with the president during that time.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and ruling People Power Party (PPP) Han Dong-hoon, center, and presidential chief of staff Chung Jin-suk sit at a table during their meeting at the presidential office, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of presidential office

The presidential office, meanwhile, did not issue an official statement about the meeting.

Instead, a senior official at the presidential office said the meeting took place in an amicable atmosphere, with both parties agreeing on the importance of unity between the government and the ruling party.

"Han raised numerous issues, including those he had previously discussed publicly and some that he hadn't. The president listened attentively and offered detailed explanations for each point," the official said.

Their meeting followed weeks of Han pressing the president to conduct a one-on-one discussion focused on sensitive topics, including allegations related to the first lady.

Han served as Yoon's first justice minister from May 2022 until December of last year. However, by the time Han ran for and won the leadership of the ruling party in July, tensions had surfaced between the two, who were once close political allies and colleagues during their careers as prosecutors.