President Park Geun-hye sat down for talks with the leaders of Korea's main rival parties on this Tuesday.
The meeting garnered a lot of attention, since it was the first time the president held talks with her election rival... and now opposition leader Moon Jae-in... in two years.
While they agreed that reviving the economy is the country's most pressing concern, they differed on how to breathe new life into the economy.
Choi You-sun reports.
After a brief exchange of greetings with the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, President Park got down to business,... addressing her recent Middle East trip.
"I ask for your cooperation in implementing deals signed in the Middle East, so that the outcome would benefit our people and businesses, and set a foundation for economic growth."
She also urged parliament to swiftly pass pending bills aimed at creating jobs and revitalizing the economy.
While promising his party's cooperation, opposition leader Moon Jae-in said that the government's economic and welfare policies have failed to improve the people's livelihood.
"We need to change policies and increase household income for growth. I propose first addressing four livelihood tasks."
The four tasks Moon listed were a significant increase in Korea's minimum wage, generating welfare funding by expanding taxes on corporations and high-income earners, and addressing the problems of rising housing rental prices and household debt.
President Park rebutted Moon's claims, saying the opposition's proposed artificial income increase could lead to more taxes and reduced corporate activity.
She added the government is already taking measures to handle the four tasks listed by the opposition leader.
As for improving inter-Korean relations, Moon said Seoul should first seek to boost economic cooperation with Pyongyang, and make efforts to hold an inter-Korean summit this year.
"While President Park has opened a channel to more actively communicate with the leaders
