Former Presidents Moon Jae-in and Park Geun-hye each met the ruling and opposition leadership on the 19th and delivered messages. It is unusual for the two former presidents to issue messages simultaneously on the same day. As the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party are both in turmoil amid internal conflicts, the two former presidents are serving as centripetal forces for their parties.
Kim Min-seok, the Democratic Party leader, visited Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, on the 19th to pay a courtesy call on former President Moon. It was three days after he became party leader on the 17th by defeating former leader Jung Chung-rae at the party convention.
Former President Moon urged leader Kim to pursue party unity and inclusiveness. Chief spokesperson Park Sung-joon told reporters, "Former President Moon said that because of the fierce competition during the party convention, party members seem to have deep wounds," and "there are calls for unity and concerns within the party, and he asked leader Kim to make special efforts to embrace and achieve unity."
Leader Kim responded that he keeps close to heart former President Moon's words during his tenure as leader that "attitude is the essence of politics." Chief spokesperson Park said, "Former President Moon said one reason wounds run deep within the party is that mockery, contempt, and hate are rampant, and that the foundation of unity is debate."
Chief spokesperson Park explained that Kim visiting former President Moon immediately after taking office was also part of efforts for integration, inclusiveness, and attending to people's livelihoods.
People Power Party floor leader Jung Jeom-sik visited former President Park's private residence in Dalseong County, Daegu, on the morning of the day. Jung and former President Park talked for 30 minutes.
Meeting with reporters, floor leader Jung said, "I paid a courtesy call on former President Park to express gratitude for actively supporting our party during the local elections and creating an opportunity for conservatives to rally."
At the meeting, former President Park was said to have explained why she went out on the stump to support the local elections. Regarding her campaign support, floor leader Jung conveyed that she said, "With the single-minded thought that 'I cannot bear to see conservatives crumble like this,' I supported them thinking that if I add even a little, our party might be revived."
Floor leader Jung also invited former President Park to the People Power Party lawmakers' workshop to be held on the 27th to 28th of this month. He said, "I hope you can offer good words on the direction the party should take," and former President Park replied that she would "consider it," according to him.
The People Power Party is undergoing severe infighting due to senior lawmakers' dissatisfaction with leader Jang Dong-hyeok's leadership, as well as disciplinary actions against some senior lawmakers such as pro-Han figures and Cho Kyung-tae and Kwon Young-jin. If former President Park attends the lawmakers' workshop, there is a possibility the internal turmoil will subside.