Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik of the People Power Party will pay a courtesy call on former President Lee Myung-bak. Following former President Park Geun-hye's attendance at the People Power Party lawmakers' retreat, where she emphasized "unity," Jeong is set to meet Lee as well, continuing moves that stress conservative consolidation and party harmony.
The People Power Party floor leader's office said that on the afternoon of the 31st, Floor Leader Jeong will pay a courtesy call on former President Lee. At the meeting, Jeong plans to express gratitude for Lee's support of the People Power Party's campaign during the June 3 local elections.
On the 28th, after the retreat ended, Jeong held a press briefing and, regarding Park's attendance at the retreat and the courtesy call on Lee, said, "I believe the possibility is always open to unite with anyone who agrees with the constitutional grand principle of a liberal democratic basic order and the values of conservatism."
As for the Democratic Party of Korea's criticism of Park's attendance at the retreat, Jeong said, "They still haven't overcome the aftereffects of their party convention, and as internal division continues, perhaps they envied that former President Park came to our party's retreat and stressed 'one team,'" adding, "I don't understand why they are meddling so much in another party's retreat."
Jeong said, "If they have time to criticize our former president for coming to the retreat, shouldn't they just invite a former president from the Democratic Party?" and added, "We will work to show proper respect to our party elder, so the Democratic Party should treat its former president as a party elder rather than using derogatory nicknames like 'Moon-joterraeyu.'"
Meanwhile, the People Power Party set a course of struggle against the Lee Jae-myung administration as it wrapped up the retreat that day. In a resolution read on behalf of the members by Reps. Cho Ji-yeon and Park Sang-woong, the lawmakers assessed, "The Lee Jae-myung administration has destroyed the rule of law, and with unbalanced policies on real estate, stocks, and semiconductors, along with reckless one-man rule on security and public safety, Korea's future is facing even greater challenges," and pledged, "We will firmly oppose all attempts to undermine the rule of law."