President Lee meets with Democratic Party leaders for dinner, emphasizing 'stronger one team' consensus

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung hosted a dinner with Kim Min-seok, the new leader of the Democratic Party, and former leadership contenders Jeong Cheong-rae and Song Young-gil. The gathering aimed to solidify party unity following the recent national convention. During the dinner, President Lee stressed the interconnectedness of the party, government, and presidential office, referring to them as a "community of fate" and "national partners" tasked with a "historical mission."

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The party, government, and presidential office are a 'community of fate' and 'national partners' who share a historical mission.

President Lee urged the attendees to collaborate to make the current year the "first year of an irreplaceable Republic of Korea." Presidential secretary for political affairs Hongic-pyo noted that Lee congratulated Kim Min-seok on his victory and offered comfort and encouragement to Jeong and Song, emphasizing their shared journey as comrades and key figures in the people's government.

Kim Min-seok apologized for any excessive rhetoric during the party leadership race and proposed joint efforts for party unity and support for state affairs. Jeong Cheong-rae highlighted their shared history, referring to themselves as comrades who overcame a "December 3 emergency martial law rebellion," and stressed the need to unite for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration and for victory in future elections. Song Young-gil also addressed the need for coordination between the party and the presidential office on real estate tax reforms and expressed regret for any controversies during the convention.

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We must work together to make this year the first year of an irreplaceable Republic of Korea.

The dinner itself was designed to symbolize unity, with dishes incorporating ingredients from the attendees' hometowns: yukhoe (beef tartare) from Kim Min-seok's Jongno district, ginseng from Jeong Cheong-rae's Geumsan, and yuja (citron) from Song Young-gil's Goheung. The presidential office explained this was meant to convey a message of solidarity for an "irreplaceable Republic of Korea." A fruit punch served for dessert further symbolized unity, representing the diverse fruits coming together to create a refreshing outcome for the nation.

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We are comrades who overcame a December 3 emergency martial law rebellion together, and we must unite for the victory of the Lee Jae-myung government and for the re-election of the administration.