President Yoon Suk-yeol and Cho Kuk, the leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, met and shook hands at an event celebrating Buddha's Birthday held at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul on May 15. It is the first time in about five years that the two have met in public.

Yoon ran into Cho as he was leaving the event and the two shook hands.

“When Yoon bumped into Cho, he said, ‘Nice to meet you,’ and asked for a handshake, and Cho accepted it but did not say anything,” Kim Bo-hyeop, a spokesperson for the Rebuilding Korea Party, said in a phone interview. Cho reportedly wanted to share his stance on political issues, but held back considering that it was an event venue.

The last time the two met at an official event was in July 2019. At the time, Yoon was appointed as prosecutor general by the Moon Jae-in administration. At a ceremony at the Blue House, he was presented with his appointment letter and met with Cho, who was the then presidential secretary for civil affairs.

In the last general election, Cho presented the slogan, "Three years is too long," and has been calling for an “early end to the dictatorship of the Yoon administration."

“I will hold the hands of those in need, and I will take care of every detail of people's lives to further increase their happiness,” President Yoon said in his speech at the ceremony. “I will do my best to properly administer the affairs of state while always keeping the Buddha's teachings in mind.”

The president also said, “Peace of mind comes when we recognize and understand the differences between ourselves and others, and when each person's heart is at peace, our society will be happier. I sincerely hope that the Buddha's merciful teachings will be a great light for the country in times of great internal and external difficulties, and that we will move forward together into a new world of peace and happiness.” He added, “The government and I will make every effort to help Korea overcome the crisis and make a greater leap forward.”