President Lee Jae-myung on the 1st invited former President Moon Jae-in to Cheong Wa Dae for a "bibimbap luncheon." As tensions between the party and the presidential office escalate into a power struggle for the next leadership and the base fractures, the meeting served to affirm the need for unity within the democratic and progressive camp by the former and current presidents. In particular, they were said to have shared concern about the use of mutual "derogatory nicknames."
Hong Ihk-pyo, senior presidential secretary for political affairs at Cheong Wa Dae, said of the luncheon between the former and current presidents, "The two agreed on their view of recent developments within the democratic camp," adding, "They agreed that hurting someone with fake news or derogatory nicknames helps no one." He also said, "Because overly aggressive expressions and mocking nicknames wound each other's feelings, we discussed that while competition is possible, it could make it harder to come together again later."
Recently, some fervent supporters in the pro-Lee and pro-Moon and pro-presidential-office camps have used terms to belittle each other, calling the other side "Munjo-teollae-yu" (Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, Kim Ou-joon, Jung Chung-rae, Rhyu Si-min) and "Hangang-sae-ttong-doe-jugil" (Han Jun-ho, Kang Deuk-gu, Kim Min-seok, Lee Dong-hyung, Kim Yong-min, Lee Un-ju, Song Young-gil).
Before the luncheon, President Lee said, "If we are to govern as a force that represents everyone and does politics for everyone, internal unity is very important," stressing "broadening the base." Former President Moon said, "We must achieve greater unity with the forces that joined in the revolution of light." Although no specific figures or parties were mentioned, it appeared to signal a view that political alignment with the Rebuilding Korea Party is needed.
"Broadening the base" is also cited as a key issue among Democratic Party supporters. Earlier, President Lee nominated former People Power Party lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon as the first Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget in the Lee Jae-myung administration. Although the nomination was withdrawn due to the nominee's own controversies, it clearly showcased the president's personnel line of "bringing in anyone with ability regardless of camp." The appointments of Her Eun-a, a former Reform Party member, as secretary for national integration; Han Chan-sik, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs who investigated the Moon Jae-in administration's "Environment Ministry blacklist allegations"; and In Yo-han, president of the Korean Red Cross and a former People Power Party figure who opposed the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, are in the same vein.
By contrast, the old mainstream centered on former party leader Jung Chung-rae is strongly opposed. Writer Rhyu Si-min recently said of President Lee, "The pledge to be everyone's president is excessive confidence and arrogance," adding, "Supporters wanted an addition, but the president is doing a reconstruction." He also said that President Lee's expansion of the base to moderates and conservatives instead of more firmly rallying the core base is "an autoimmune disease that grows an enemy within."
In this context, President Lee drew attention by emphasizing "internal unity" while also saying, "We must constantly broaden the base to build a structural majority, and we must keep delivering results there." However, Hong said, "Unity and broadening the base are not separate," adding, "Only with unity is it possible to broaden the base, and by broadening the base while uniting, a democratic government can succeed—this is what the two discussed."