SEOUL — In a gesture of reconciliation and political continuity, President Yoon Suk Yeol hosted a dinner for former President Lee Myung-bak and his wife, marking their first official meeting since Yoon's inauguration. The event also included First Lady Kim Keon Hee and Yoon's chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, who previously served under Lee.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the dinner follows a brief encounter between the two leaders at the funeral of Yoon's father in August 2023 and comes after Lee's release from prison, where he was serving a term for bribery and embezzlement, following a presidential pardon in December 2022. Discussions at the dinner covered a range of topics, with a focus on South Korea's recent agreement to construct nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic. This meeting underscores a pivotal moment as Lee, known for his entrepreneurial background and focus on resource diplomacy during his presidency, re-engages with current national and international policies.