Former Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae resigned from the party leadership at the morning supreme council meeting and, as a first official engagement, visited former President Moon Jae-in.
At about 2:11 p.m. that day, the former leader arrived at the Seoul International Book Fair at COEX in Seoul and said, "I came to meet former President Moon Jae-in," adding, "I was going to go to Pyeongsan Village, but I heard he would not be there today, so I came here."
When the former leader appeared on site, public reaction was mixed. Some people shouted, "Not the person we wanted," while others sent messages that seemed to cheer a bid for party leader, saying, "Push through to the end."
At about 2:28 p.m., when former President Moon Jae-in arrived, the former leader, together at the venue, bought four books related to former and incumbent presidents: the audio memoir of former President Kim Dae-jung, former President Roh Moo-hyun's It's Fate, former President Moon Jae-in's Moon Jae-in's Fate, and President Lee Jae-myung's In the End, the People Do It. He also signed on site, writing the phrase "Always like the first time."
Immediately after meeting former President Moon, the former leader told reporters, "Just then, books by four presidents were on display, so I bought four—Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, and Lee Jae-myung." He went on, "In my resignation remarks this morning, I said we must make the history from Kim Dae-jung to Lee Jae-myung bloom even more, and former President Moon also agreed, saying, 'Right, right.'"
The meeting was reportedly arranged without prior coordination. The former leader said, "I did not get permission in advance or coordinate the schedule; I was going to pay my respects at Pyeongsan Village and ended up dropping by," adding, "I said I would leave quickly because it seemed like I was disrupting business, but he told me to be sure to listen to the explanation before going."
The former leader said, "I was glad to see him after a long time, and I could feel the warmth as he warmly held my hand."
Asked what they discussed with former President Moon, the former leader said, "There were no particular remarks about today's resignation," but added, "He knew about the resignation and patted my back in encouragement."