President Lee Jae-myung on the 1st shared a "bibimbap lunch" with former President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House. Referring to himself as a "junior," Lee said, "If we are to govern, represent everyone, and do politics for everyone, internal unity is extremely important," stressing "broadening our base," while Moon said, "We must achieve greater unity with the forces that joined the 'revolution of light.'"
◇ One voice for "unity"… Moon urges "greater leadership"
Lee invited Moon to Sangchunjae at the Blue House that day. It was the first official meeting between the two since Lee took office. However, in May they briefly met and exchanged greetings at the 10th anniversary memorial service for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang.
Before the meal, Moon said, "Another historic task given to the Lee Jae-myung administration is national unity," adding, "The starting point for moving toward unity is unity within the party." He continued, "If the Democratic Party first unites, and on that basis achieves greater unity with the democratic reform camp and the forces that joined the revolution of light, we can bring the hearts of the people together as one."
It appeared to be a remark suggesting the need for political solidarity with the broader opposition, including the Rebuilding Korea Party. Moon said, "I believe the only person in Korea who can achieve the Democratic Party's unity now, greater unity with the democratic reform camp, and even national unity is our President Lee Jae-myung," adding, "I hope you will exercise greater leadership and surely fulfill the dream of being president for everyone."
In response, Lee said, "As (former) President Moon said, we are not running private businesses or working for private reasons, so fundamentally we must represent everyone and do politics and administration for everyone," adding, "To do that, internal unity is also very important. We must be solid inside." He also said, "We must constantly expand our base to build a structural majority, and we must continually produce results to support that," adding, "It cannot be just words, can it? I think we must harmonize these two things well."
On inter-Korean relations, Lee said, "I feel they have been damaged to the point of being irreparable," adding, "This hostility and confrontational mindset do not seem to be something that can be resolved with a year or two of sincere effort." He continued, "The military pressure on the North to stage a military coup or a loyalist coup seems to have been really excessive. Too much has piled up," adding, "Starting with the so-called Sunshine Policy pursued by democratic administrations, we must continue policies of peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas. I will carry that forward well."
◇ "Bibimbap" lunch at the Blue House, party infighting deepens
According to the Blue House, bibimbap and croaker soup were served at the lunch as symbols of "unity." Also prepared were poached egg salad, mung bean chicken porridge, buckwheat cabbage jeon, tilefish jeon, zucchini shrimp jeon, grilled premium Korean beef, known as hanwoo short ribs, assorted rice cakes, and fruit punch. The Blue House said the punch was added recalling how in 2017, during the Moon Jae-in administration, First Lady Kim Jung-sook made punch using windfall fruit from flood-hit areas and served it to Blue House staff and the press corps.
The meeting came together as tensions peaked between the Blue House and the previous leadership of Jeong Chung-rae ahead of the Democratic Party of Korea convention. Jeong and other old-guard figures in the democratic camp have not hidden their displeasure at Lee's emphasis on "inclusive appointments" and "slowing the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority." Writer Yoo Si-min recently said of Lee, "His confidence is excessive," adding, "Supporters wanted an extension, but Lee is trying to do a rebuild." Assessments by the Blue House and the party of the June 3 local elections also diverge.
With Lee recently appointing former Chief Prosecutor Han Chan-sik as the new senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, opposition to Lee among the old guard has grown. They take issue with the fact that while at the prosecution, Han led a search of the Blue House as part of the investigation into the Moon Jae-in administration's "Environment Ministry blacklist" case.
The upcoming convention is expected to be a three-way race among former Chair Jeong, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, and former Chair Song Young-gil. Depending on who is elected the new party leader, not only could the future dynamics between the party and the Blue House shift, but the Blue House's governing momentum in its second year could also be affected.