DPK leader and former president meet and deliver message emphasizing unity of party

Leaders of the Democratic Party of Korea, including Lee Jae-myung, talk with former President Moon Jae-in at his residence in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, on September 8. Courtesy of the Democratic Party of Korea

Lee Jae-myung, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader, paid a courtesy call to former President Moon Jae-in on September 8 and delivered a message emphasizing the unity of the party while strongly criticizing the recent prosecution investigation targeting the former president's family. Analysts say Lee has reached out at a time when the chemical combination with pro-Roh Moo-hyun and pro-Moon Jae-in forces centered on former President Moon is considered as a major task of Lee's presidential campaign.

Lee visited Moon's residence in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and talked with him for about an hour. “The government's behavior is political repression that is incomprehensible politically and legally,” Lee said, referring to the prosecution's investigation into Moon's family. Moon expressed his gratitude, saying that he would “cooperate with the investigation gallantly.”

Earlier, when news broke that the prosecution had named Moon as a suspect, Lee actively responded by ordering the formation of a “Task Force on Political Repression of the Former Regime” and appointing three-term lawmaker Kim Young-jin, an original member of the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, as its chairman.

Lee and Moon also agreed on the need to prevent internal divisions within the party. Lee recently called for a rally to be canceled through his spokesperson after some hardline supporters called for the defection of Moon.

Before visiting Moon, Lee visited Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, where he visited the mausoleum of former President Roh Moo-hyun and wrote in the guest book, “I will definitely create a ‘world that lives together’ with the organized power of awakened citizens.’” He then had a luncheon with Roh’s wife Kwon Yang-sook. Cho Seung-rae, a senior spokesman for the DPK, said, "Kwon evaluated that (Lee) ‘has the same taste in food as Roh. They are very similar.’”

But assessments are mixed on whether Lee will be able to bridge the deep-rooted divide between the Pro-Lee Jae-myung faction and the pro-Roh and pro-Moon factions. In Pyeongsan Village, pro-myung supporters shouted, “Moon Jae-in should reflect on himself.” Moon reportedly told the party leadership, including Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the DPK, who visited Pyeongsan Village in July, that the message from the largest pro-myung group, the Democratic National Innovation Conference, was harsh, and he also told Lee on the day that he needed to “broaden the base of supporters to return to power.”

The disagreements between Lee's camp and non-mainstream factions within the party, including the pro-Moon group, are also being exposed. Regarding Lee's claim to provide 250,000 won to all citizens, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon appeared on a YouTube channel on September 7 and criticized it, saying, "It is said that it costs 13 trillion won if you distribute 250,000 won to all citizens. Thirteen trillion won is not small money that falls from the sky."

The aftermath of the nomination process, which took place during the 22nd general election, is also continuing. The “Choilhoe,” which is led by figures who failed to be nominated, such as former lawmakers Park Kwang-on, Kang Byeong-won, and Park Yong-jin, recently held a workshop and began full-scale activities.

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.