In their first-ever meeting after President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in 2012, main opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung criticized the president's two years in power as a time of dominance and ruling without politics. Despite starting the meeting with amicable remarks and expressing hope for new hope for the Korean people, Lee's tone shifted to criticizing Yoon's presidency and expressing concerns about the country becoming "autocratized." Yoon nodded through Lee's speech and later expressed understanding of the differing stances. After the meeting, Lee expressed disappointment in Yoon's lack of willingness to bring about change, while also acknowledging that the meeting was meaningful in opening the first chapter of dialogue between the two rivals. Skepticism arose about whether the meeting would bridge the gap between the two parties, with some doubting its ability to smooth the policy road ahead for Yoon's remaining three years in office. The meeting was seen as a testing ground for Yoon to respond to the public sentiment displayed in the latest parliamentary elections and to the Democratic Party's proposals for policy improvements. The meeting between Yoon and Lee was seen as an opportunity for the rivals to forge a new partnership, but doubts were raised about its ability to produce solid outcomes due to historical precedents and the need for a more sustainable solution involving more ranking officials from both rival parties and the government.