Opposition Urged to Suspend Partisan Politics for National Interest During APEC Summit

Ruling Party Leader Chung Cheong-rae: "We Must Join Hands Even with the Devil for the Sake of National Interest"... Proposes 'No-Conflict Week' to Opposition

On October 27, 2025, Chung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, presided over a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly and proposed that the opposition declare a 'no-conflict week' for the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, this week. This proposal is drawing significant attention from the political sphere. Representative Chung expressed his commitment to cooperating with anyone for the sake of South Korea's national interest, emphasizing bipartisan cooperation. He stressed that the APEC summit is an international event attended by leaders of major countries and an important opportunity to enhance South Korea's standing and strengthen economic cooperation, urging the opposition to cooperate. Representative Chung cited past instances where South Korea united for the national interest, arguing that all parties must join forces to overcome the current political situation and achieve national goals. His remarks are interpreted as a message to temporarily halt political confrontation and prioritize national interest amid intensifying conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties, using the national event as an opportunity. Representative Chung Cheong-rae urged the opposition to actively cooperate, citing past examples of South Korea overcoming difficulties and strengthening its national power. He recalled the 2002 World Cup, the 1998 International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, and the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where the ruling and opposition parties cooperated in a bipartisan manner to overcome national crises. Representative Chung emphasized that the current political difficulties can also be overcome through these past examples, earnestly requesting the opposition to participate in the no-conflict week proposal. In particular, he made a strong statement, saying, "We must join hands even with the devil for the sake of national interest," making it clear that the nation's interests should be prioritized above all else, even at the cost of political sacrifices. This statement has sparked various interpretations both inside and outside the political sphere, and attention is being paid to how it will affect future state affairs. While some criticize Representative Chung's remarks as being too strong, others argue that it was an unavoidable choice to lead bipartisan cooperation in a national crisis. Representative Chung Cheong-rae's 'no-conflict week' proposal is interpreted as a practical measure for the successful hosting of the APEC summit in Gyeongju this week. The White House officially announced that US President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea on October 30. With such a global event drawing worldwide attention, domestic political stability and bipartisan cooperation can play an important role in enhancing South Korea's image and strengthening its position in the international community. Representative Chung emphasized this point and once again urged the opposition to actively participate in the no-conflict week proposal. He also predicted that South Korea would be able to lead economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and contribute to creating new growth engines through this APEC summit. In particular, he emphasized that South Korea can introduce its advanced technologies and innovative industrial models and contribute to the development of the global economy through cooperation with other countries. Meanwhile, the opposition's response to Representative Chung Cheong-rae's proposal has not yet been clearly revealed. The opposition is reportedly maintaining a cautious attitude and carefully reviewing Representative Chung's proposal. While some suggest that the opposition may react positively to Representative Chung's proposal, others predict that they will not be able to make a decision easily due to political interests and strategic considerations. The opposition's decision could have a significant impact on future state affairs and is expected to mark a new turning point in relations between the ruling and opposition parties. Representative Chung said he would continue to engage in dialogue and negotiations with the opposition to build consensus on the no-conflict week proposal and work to bring about bipartisan cooperation. Attention is focused on whether his efforts will bear fruit and what the outcome will be for the political sphere and the public. In addition, the news that the third-term reader committee of Ilyo Seoul was launched on October 27, 2025, and the fact that committee member Park Bae-jin mentioned in an article that China is showing signs of building artificial islands in the West Sea, are adding to concerns about South Korea's diplomatic and security environment ahead of the APEC summit. Regarding the economic situation, as of October 27, 2025, the current gold price is trading at ₩755,000 per don for selling pure gold and ₩854,000 for buying, and according to the Korea Standard Gold Exchange, the gold price when buying 1 don of pure gold (Gold 24k-3.75g) is ₩859,000 (including VAT). According to Shinhan Bank, the benchmark domestic gold price (gold price) is ₩187,312.12 per gram for 24k pure gold. The current domestic gold price on the Korea Exchange (KRX) gold market is trading at ₩187,620, down ₩1,340 from the previous trading day's closing price of ₩188,960. The international gold price (gold price) is trading at $4,065.24, down $24.51, or 0.26%, from the previous trading day's closing price of $4,089.75, and is trading at $4070. It remains to be seen how this news will affect economic cooperation discussions at the APEC summit. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and US President Donald Trump, along with leaders from various countries, are expected to gather to find solutions to global economic uncertainties.