Diplomacy 'Super Week': Ruling Party Proposes Truce, Opposition Demands Results
Diplomacy 'Super Week': Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash, Emphasizing 'Results' Amid Truce Proposal
October 27, 2025 – South Korea's political landscape is marked by subtle differences between the ruling and opposition parties as the nation embarks on a crucial week of diplomatic activity. Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed a 'truce week' during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly today, calling for bipartisan cooperation. In contrast, Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, while pledging support for a successful APEC summit, maintained that cooperation without tangible results would be meaningless. While both sides agree on the need to support diplomatic efforts, they appear to differ on the method and objectives.
Jeong Cheong-rae characterized the week, which includes the ASEAN summit and the APEC summit, as a vital period for South Korean diplomacy. He urged both parties to cease political strife and cooperate for the national interest. He particularly emphasized the need for both sides to work together to ensure the success of the 2025 Gyeongju APEC summit. Jeong recalled past instances, such as the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the 1998 IMF financial crisis, and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, where the ruling and opposition parties forged a 'no-fighting agreement' to unite national strength in the face of national crises or important events. He argued that the current situation also requires such cooperation. Jeong stated his intention to refrain from making statements that could incite political conflict during the week, except for unavoidable policy-related remarks, and to focus on creating an atmosphere conducive to cooperation with the opposition. It remains to be seen whether Jeong's proposal can ease the recent political gridlock and contribute to strengthening South Korea's diplomatic capabilities.
Jang Dong-hyeok responded positively to Jeong Cheong-rae's 'truce week' proposal, but made it clear that cooperation without tangible results would be pointless. He promised that the ruling party would do everything in its power to ensure the success of the APEC summit. However, he also expressed concern over the ongoing difficulties in the current tariff negotiations. Jang emphasized that the APEC summit should be an opportunity to bring real benefits to the South Korean economy, not just a diplomatic event. He argued that the true meaning of the APEC summit could only be found by achieving concrete results such as lowering tariff barriers and opening up new markets. Jang's remarks are interpreted as a clear statement that the ruling party will actively support the success of the APEC summit, but cannot agree to cooperation that merely promotes appearances. Therefore, the future direction of cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties is expected to depend on what tangible results can be achieved through the APEC summit.
As the ruling and opposition parties show differing views on the diplomatic 'Super Week,' finding practical ways to cooperate for the successful hosting of the 2025 Gyeongju APEC summit has emerged as an important task. Jeong Cheong-rae's 'truce week' proposal is seen as an attempt to ease the strained political situation and promote bipartisan cooperation. However, concerns have been raised, as Jang Dong-hyeok pointed out, that its meaning could be diminished if it is not backed up by tangible results. In particular, it is crucial how the ruling and opposition parties can find common ground and maximize South Korea's national interests through the APEC summit, given the sharply conflicting economic interests such as tariff negotiations. The Lee Jae-myung administration must focus all its efforts on strengthening South Korea's diplomatic standing and securing economic benefits through this APEC summit. Furthermore, it should focus on laying the groundwork for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula through close cooperation with leaders from other countries, including US President Donald Trump.
