Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), center, speaks during the party's Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is seeking to drive a wedge between the presidential office and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) after a meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and PPP leader Han Dong-hoon on Monday further underscored their differing stances on how to address risks related to the first lady, according to political analysts, Wednesday.

The DPK, currently in control of the National Assembly, is pressuring Han to table a new bill mandating a special counsel investigation to look into allegations surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee.

"If Han proposes a new bill that calls for a special counsel probe into the first lady, we will discuss it," Rep. Han Min-soo told reporters after the opposition party's Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday.

Last week, the DPK introduced its third bill calling for a special counsel investigation into the first lady after two previous bills were scrapped in a revote after Yoon vetoed them.

The new bill includes recent allegations that Kim solicited help from Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed political broker, to manipulate public opinion polls and exercise undue influence over the ruling party's candidate nominations for by-elections in 2022 and April's general elections.

Hinting that he is unlikely to accept the DPK's suggestion, Han Dong-hoon reiterated the need to appoint a special inspector to investigate allegations involving Kim, stressing that it could be a way to alleviate public concerns.

"If we do not resolve suspicions related to the first lady, the public that turned their backs on the DPK will not stand by our side," Han said Wednesday during a party meeting.

However, the pro-Han faction within the ruling party suggested Han put more distance between himself and Yoon to reassure party members still on the fence that he is different from the president.

"If the presidential office refuses to change, I think the PPP should seek decoupling as an objective in order to show the party's vision. The ruling party must strive for the success of the government but, at the same time, share our vision independently," Oh Shin-hwan, chairman of the PPP's special committee on metropolitan vision, said.

The presidential office said it will appoint a special inspector based on bipartisan recommendation.

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), third from left, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Political analysts said DPK leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung will use the fruitless meeting between Yoon and Han to gain the upper hand over the ruling party, and the DPK will push assertively for the special counsel probe bill on the first lady.

"Lee holds the upper hand because now he can say with confidence that Han has failed to break his ongoing standoff with the president," said Park Chang-hwan, a political commentator and professor at Jangan University.

"However, I don't think Han would agree with the DPK's special counsel probe bill. He suggested the appointment of a special counsel to differentiate (himself) from both the presidential office and the DPK. If Lee tones it down and supports Han's idea, that would be the fastest way to resolve issues related to the first lady. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's the right way to do it."

Lee said the Yoon-Han meeting was disappointing, adding it reminded him of a back alley brawl.

"Politics is about acknowledging existing disparities and settling differences of opinion," Lee said during the party's Supreme Council meeting. "If you try to eliminate or ignore the existence of your opponent, it becomes a fight, not politics. We will do our utmost to restore politics again."

Meanwhile, Han and Lee have agreed to hold another round of official talks following their first meeting last month. The two sides plan to arrange a specific date for the meeting soon.

They will likely discuss livelihood issues such as the launch of a four-way consultative body comprising major political parties, the government and doctors' groups to discuss medical reform issues and the introduction of a financial investment income tax, but the first lady risk is of utmost importance, according to political analysts.

Park said, "Apart from discussing livelihood issues, the first lady risk will be on top of the meeting agenda as it has brought state affairs to a standstill."