President Lee Jae-myung Emphasizes Unity, Declaring Ruling Party, Administration, and Presidential Office 'Destined Companions'

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung held a dinner meeting with Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, who ran in the party leadership election, alongside lawmakers Chung Cheong-rae and Song Young-gil. President Lee emphasized that the ruling party, the administration, and the presidential office are destined companions, calling on them to join forces.

Reporter Park Yerim has the details.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung poses for photos while holding hands with newly elected Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok and lawmakers Chung Cheong-rae and Song Young-gil, who competed against each other in the party leadership race.

[Look at each other once this way...]

[Song Young-gil / Democratic Party Lawmaker: Look this way too. Why are you only looking that way?]

The ensuing dinner was attended by President Lee, party leader Kim, lawmakers Chung and Song, floor leader Han Byeong-do, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, and Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyro.

President Lee first offered congratulations to leader Kim, while extending comfort and encouragement to lawmakers Chung and Song. The presidential office stated that he emphasized all three are comrades who have shared life and death together, as well as responsible leading figures of the national sovereignty government.

President Lee reportedly added, "The ruling party, the administration, and the presidential office are destined companions and state affairs partners who share the historic mission of our time," and urged them, "Let us join forces to make this year the inaugural year of an irreplaceable Republic of Korea."

The dinner lasted for over three hours, during which the candidates also expressed regret over lingering grievances from the party convention.

Leader Kim said, "I apologize for some of the excessive expressions used during the party convention process," and lawmaker Song also remarked, "I want to clear up any misunderstandings with comrade Chung Cheong-rae," according to Senior Secretary Hong.

In response, lawmaker Chung reportedly replied, "We are comrades who crossed the line of death together during the December 3 emergency martial law rebellion," adding, "As destined companions with the Lee Jae-myung administration, we must unite to achieve victory in the general and presidential elections and successfully retain power."

As a dinner menu item, a unity yukhoe (raw beef) featuring hometown ingredients from the three candidates was served. With internal concerns running high over the conflicts that surfaced during the party convention, the gathering was interpreted as an effort to emphasize harmony and a one-team spirit.

(Camera reporting: Jung Sang-bo, Ha Ryung | Video editing: Nam Il)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.