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๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Elections & Politics

Lee, Moon Agree: 'No Derogatory Terms Within Democratic Camp, Must Unite'

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • President Lee Jae-myung and former President Moon Jae-in agreed that internal criticism within the democratic camp is detrimental.
  • They emphasized the need for unity to expand the democratic coalition's reach and ensure the success of a democratic government.
  • The discussion occurred during a luncheon meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, focusing on strengthening the democratic bloc rather than specific individuals or methods.

President Lee Jae-myung and former President Moon Jae-in held a luncheon meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, where they reached a consensus on the need to prevent internal discord and criticism within the democratic political camp.

According to Hong Ik-pyo, the presidential secretary for political affairs, the leaders discussed the negative impact of baseless attacks and derogatory terms used among political allies. They concluded that such divisions do not benefit the nation's recovery or development. "Aggressive expressions and derogatory terms can inflict emotional wounds and create difficulties for future collaboration," Hong explained.

We agreed that divisions within the democratic camp, mutual derogatory remarks, or baseless slander do not help the whole, nor do they help the recovery of the Korean people's livelihoods or national development.

โ€” Hong Ik-pyoSummarizing the agreement reached between President Lee and former President Moon regarding internal political discourse.

The core message conveyed was that unity is essential for expanding the democratic coalition's influence and ultimately ensuring the success of a democratic administration. "We must unite to expand our reach, and only through expanded reach and unity can a democratic government succeed," the leaders reportedly agreed.

Aggressive expressions and derogatory terms can inflict emotional wounds and create difficulties for future collaboration.

โ€” Hong Ik-pyoExplaining the potential negative consequences of internal political attacks.

While the meeting did not delve into specific individuals like author Yoo Si-min or former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, the discussion centered on broader strategies for strengthening the democratic bloc. Yoo Si-min had recently commented on YouTube about the core supporters of the Democratic Party feeling alienated, suggesting a disconnect between the president's actions and the base's expectations.

The emphasis was clearly on fostering solidarity and presenting a united front, rather than engaging in internal disputes that could weaken their political standing and hinder their ability to address national issues effectively.

We must unite to expand our reach, and only through expanded reach and unity can a democratic government succeed.

โ€” Hong Ik-pyoArticulating the leaders' view on the necessity of unity for political success.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.