President Lee stresses unity, focus on livelihoods amid party strife

President Lee Jae-myung directly briefed reporters on his 8-day European tour and participation in the G7 summit, offering detailed accounts of his conversations with global leaders. During the press conference at the Blue House, Lee discussed his meetings with figures like U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Francis, while also candidly addressing recent controversies surrounding party and administration conflicts.

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We're struggling to make a living, why are they fighting?

A significant achievement of the tour was fostering 'consensus' on key international issues. Lee reported conveying South Korea's firm stance against the European Union's steel tariffs, set to take effect next month, and receiving "considerable empathy and understanding" from EU leadership. He also extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and North Korea during the World Youth Day in Seoul next year, receiving a positive response.

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Politics means gathering many people who sympathize and agree.

Regarding North Korea's nuclear program, Lee revealed he proposed a "phased approach" to President Trump, suggesting a division of denuclearization into short, medium, and long-term goals. Trump reportedly responded that he would "consider it." Lee also highlighted the importance of building broader support by "gathering more people who sympathize and agree" through "practice and action that produce results useful to the public."

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The conclusion is that we must gather many people who sympathize and agree.

Amidst internal party strife and a dip in his approval ratings, Lee acknowledged public frustration, stating, "People must be thinking, 'We're struggling to make a living, why are they fighting?'" He stressed the need to resolve the situation quickly. The President urged the ruling party to embody an inclusive and responsible attitude, focusing on people's livelihoods rather than engaging in "warfare" within the same camp. He called for a shift from internal competition to productive policy debates, emphasizing that the second year of his term should focus on achieving tangible results in governance.

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We must strive to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.