▲ President Lee Jae-myung and his wife, along with former First Lady Kwon Yang-sook and former President Moon Jae-in, arrive at the 17th memorial service for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, on May 23.
President Lee Jae-myung is hosting a luncheon for former President Moon Jae-in at Sangchunjae, the reception hall within the Blue House.
This marks the first time President Lee has met with the former president at the Blue House since taking office.
The Blue House announced that today, July 1, the lunch menu will feature bibimbap, croaker soup (mineo-tang), grilled Korean beef short ribs, buckwheat cabbage pancakes, and john dory pancakes, with assorted rice cakes and fruit punch served for dessert.
A Blue House official stated, "We prepared croaker soup, which is a seasonal summer delicacy and a favorite fish dish of former President Moon, as well as bibimbap, which symbolizes unity," adding, "The menu was chosen to welcome the former president back to the Blue House after his retirement."
The official further added, "We composed the menu by adding dishes that symbolize the harmony and unity that both the current and former presidents have always emphasized. The dessert was also selected to ensure a harmonious blend of various flavors, reflecting the meaning of unity and harmony."
Furthermore, some observers suggest that the meeting may emphasize harmony and unity within the Democratic Party of Korea, especially as the competition for party leadership heats up ahead of the party's national convention.
Attention is focused on whether a message regarding these matters will emerge from today's luncheon.
Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs, stated on June 27, "It will be a meaningful occasion to listen to the former president's insights and have a candid discussion on overall state affairs for the sake of restoring people's livelihoods, national unity, and the success of the government of popular sovereignty."
The Blue House noted that it had been seeking a meeting with former President Moon since shortly after President Lee took office, but the meeting was arranged for today after coordinating schedules that had been difficult to align due to state affairs.
President Lee's spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, and former President Moon's spouse, Kim Jung-sook, will not be attending today's luncheon.
It was reported that this is due to an overseas schedule for former First Lady Kim Jung-sook.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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