Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung met with the leaders of ruling and opposition parties on Friday to discuss bipartisan cooperation and pending state affairs, Cheong Wa Dae said. The luncheon meeting, held at Cheong Wa Dae, brought together the leaders of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and five minor parties. Jang Dong-hyeok, the leader of the main opposition People Power Party, did not attend the meeting.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Jang launched a hunger strike on Thursday, demanding the DP accept special probe bills on allegations of bribery involving the Unification Church and separate claims of illicit payments linked to the DP's election nominations. The five minor parties in attendance were the Rebuilding Korea Party, the New Reform Party, the Basic Income Party, the Jinbo Party, and the Social Democratic Party.

Details of the conversations were not immediately disclosed, though it was expected that Lee would share the outcomes of his recent visits to China and Japan, exchange views on overall state affairs, and ask for political support for the government's policy efforts. This meeting marked Lee's third gathering with party leaders since taking office in June last year and his first since last September.