President Lee Seeks Party Unity After Heated Convention

President Lee Jae-myung convened a dinner meeting with key figures from the ruling party, including Kim Min-seok, Jeong Cheong-rae, and Song Young-gil, just two days after the conclusion of a contentious party convention. The gathering aimed to foster internal harmony within the Democratic Party of Korea following a period of intensified division among supporters.

During the meeting at the Blue House, President Lee stressed the importance of unity, describing the government, party, and presidential office as a "community of shared destiny" and "national partners" bearing a "historical mission." He called on attendees to pool their efforts to establish the current year as the "first year of an irreplaceable Republic of Korea."

Kim Min-seok, who competed for party leadership, offered an apology for any "excessive expressions" made during the convention, particularly directed towards Jeong Cheong-rae. Kim expressed a commitment to supporting the party's unity and the government's administrative tasks.

Jeong Cheong-rae echoed the sentiment of solidarity, referring to himself and Kim as "comrades and fellow soldiers" who had overcome significant challenges together. He affirmed their shared destiny with the Lee Jae-myung administration and pledged to work towards securing victory in upcoming general elections and presidential races to ensure the continuation of their government.