Kim Min-seok, the newly appointed leader of the Democratic Party, received a congratulatory letter from President Lee Jae-myung on August 18 and paid respects at the grave of former President Kim Dae-jung. On August 19, he plans to visit the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun and meet with former President Moon Jae-in. As he embarks on a path of unified politics, attention is focused on whether he can fulfill the '4 Unity' pledge made by his rival, former leader Jeong Cheong-rae, which calls for the integration of supporters from four Democratic presidents.
On the same day, Kim met with Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo, and Political Secretary Jeong Eul-ho at the National Assembly. He stated, "The Democratic Party will convey the voices of the people from the field to the Blue House and the government," adding, "We will engage in discussions and ensure stable cooperation between the party and the government." Kim, who previously served as the first Prime Minister under the Lee administration, emphasized the importance of party-government collaboration.
Additionally, Kim attended a memorial service for his political mentor, Kim Dae-jung, on the 17th anniversary of his passing. He remarked, "The youngest secretary to the president has now become the leader of the Democratic Party. Without the president's support, it would have been difficult to establish the Park Chung-hee Memorial Library, which symbolizes reconciliation and unity."
Furthermore, Kim plans to visit Roh's grave on August 19 and meet with Moon. While visits to former presidents typically occur after the formation of the party leadership, the recent tensions between the pro-Lee and pro-Jeong factions during the party convention have drawn attention.
In his acceptance speech following his election at the party convention, Kim indicated a commitment to unity, stating, "I will work alongside Jeong and Song Young-gil, who also competed with me. I will open the door wide and welcome everyone." Jeong had previously argued that the decline in President Lee's approval ratings was due to a loss of core support and emphasized the need for internal cohesion, advocating for the '4 Unity' initiative.
Meanwhile, both President Lee and former President Moon have stressed the necessity of party unity. During a cabinet meeting, President Lee acknowledged that "people's opinions may differ, and conflicts may arise," but emphasized that "ultimately, we are all a community of destiny working together for a better life for the people and a brighter future for the nation." This statement is interpreted as an effort to mend internal party conflicts and encourage cooperation with the opposition following the recent party convention. President Lee is scheduled to host a dinner with Kim, Jeong, and Song on August 19, signaling a desire to resolve the tensions that surfaced during the convention.
Former President Moon also addressed the party convention via video, stating, "Competition is natural and a process that makes the party healthier and more vibrant," but cautioned that "competition should not divide the party. I urge you to compete fiercely, accept the results, and demonstrate a mature attitude of embracing one another."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.