Zero Meetings Between Former and Current Presidents for 16 Years
At the opening ceremony for the 'Obama Presidential Center' held in Chicago, former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden, along with their spouses, attended and were seen with former President Obama. President Donald Trump was the only one not invited to the event.
In South Korea, during President Kim Dae-jung's tenure, former Presidents Choi Kyu-hah, Chun Doo-hwan, and Roh Tae-woo, along with their spouses, were invited to the Blue House for exchanges, including taking commemorative photos. In January 2004, then-President Roh Moo-hyun also invited former Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Chun Doo-hwan, and Roh Tae-woo to the Blue House for a dinner.
However, meetings between former and current presidents from different parties have since ceased. In 2010, during the Cheonan sinking incident, President Lee Myung-bak invited former presidents, but only former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Kim Young-sam attended, and subsequent Blue House invitations effectively disappeared. When President Lee Myung-bak invited former presidents in 2010, only former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Kim Young-sam attended. Former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun had passed away by then. Following the Moon Jae-in administration, the drive for 'clearing past corruptions' continued, and after President Yoon Suk-yeol took office, former presidents were invited to a 'National Inauguration Ceremony' held in Gwanghwamun, but former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye did not attend.
Recently, former President Lee Myung-bak characterized the local election results as a 'warning to the administration' and stated that succeeding in state affairs would be difficult by ignoring the opposition party and the public. The recent local election results demonstrated a check on the ruling party. Although the Democratic Party won in many areas, the vote share difference with the People Power Party in proportional representation elections for metropolitan councils was only 5.4 percentage points. Following the elections, the president's approval ratings have also shown a downward trend, and the Democratic Party is facing internal conflict ahead of its national convention. Governing the nation by ignoring the opposition party and its supporters cannot guarantee success.
He proposed that former presidents could be valuable political assets and suggested that current President Yoon Suk-yeol invite former Presidents Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, and Moon Jae-in to explain state affairs and seek cooperation. President Yoon Suk-yeol himself has previously emphasized unity and pragmatism. At this juncture, meetings with former presidents can be utilized as a political asset. Although President Yoon Suk-yeol is currently on trial, meetings with former Presidents Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, and Moon Jae-in are possible. Just as former President Kim Dae-jung met with those who sought to have him executed, there is no obstacle for President Yoon Suk-yeol to meet with former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Former President Moon Jae-in could help resolve internal conflicts within the ruling party. President Yoon Suk-yeol inviting former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye to the Blue House to explain state affairs and seek cooperation could be a clue towards national unity. It would also be advisable for these former presidents to respond positively to such an invitation. While it may be difficult to expect significant results from a single meeting, it could be an important step towards national unity.
