Kim Min-seok Meets Former President Moon Jae-in, Pledges to Foster Unity in Party

Former President Moon Jae-in met with Kim Min-seok, the new leader of the Democratic Party, on August 19, expressing concern over factional conflicts that have arisen during the party convention. Moon stated, "There is deep internal injury among party members," and urged for inclusiveness and unity within the party.

After the meeting, which lasted about 40 minutes, Chief Spokesperson Park Sung-jun told reporters that Moon emphasized the need for Kim to make special efforts to achieve harmony and inclusiveness. Park noted, "Moon said there are voices worried about unity within the party, and he asked Kim to work diligently to foster that spirit."

Park also mentioned that during Kim's tenure as the head of the Democratic Research Institute, Moon had highlighted that "attitude is the essence of politics," a sentiment that Kim has taken to heart. He added, "The emphasis on language, attitude, and dignity is a crucial virtue in politics moving forward."

Moon's concerns about the prevalence of mockery and disdain within the party were also addressed. According to Park, Moon pointed out that "the rampant mockery, disdain, and hatred exacerbate internal conflicts." In response, Kim stated, "The foundation of unity is debate in politics. I will ensure that mockery and hateful language do not prevail, fulfilling my role within the party and through campaigns."

Since taking office on August 17, Kim has been actively engaging in various activities. On the morning of the meeting, he met with Jeon Jae-soo, the mayor of Busan, at the Busan City Hall, and then chaired a field Supreme Council meeting at the Busan City Party. Following that, he paid respects at the grave of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Gimhae, and also visited former First Lady Kwon Yang-sook. In the afternoon, he traveled to Yangsan to meet with Moon. Kim is scheduled to visit Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on August 21 and attend a high-level party government meeting on August 23.

* This article has been translated by AI.