[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung held a luncheon with former President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House today (July 1). With internal conflict intensifying over the Democratic Party's leadership race, the two leaders spoke with one voice to emphasize unity, though some interpreted their remarks as having subtle differences.

Reporter Park Yerim has the story.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung embraces former President Moon Jae-in upon his arrival at the Blue House.

[Moon Jae-in / Former President: How is your health? You seem to be working too hard.]

[Lee Jae-myung / President: My health is fine. I have a natural resilience.]

With the Democratic Party's national convention approaching on August 17, the two appeared concerned about internal divisions, calling for unity in unison.

[Moon Jae-in / Former President: I believe that party unity is the starting point for moving toward national integration.]

[Lee Jae-myung / President: We must engage in politics and administration for everyone. To do that, internal unity is crucial; we must be solid from within.]

However, there were subtle differences in what they emphasized regarding the nature of that unity.

[Moon Jae-in / Former President: The Democratic Party must first unite, and then achieve a greater unity with the forces that joined us in the revolution of light...]

[Lee Jae-myung / President: We must continuously expand our reach, and I believe we must strive to build a structural majority...]

The Blue House explained that there was no disagreement between the two.

[Hong Ik-pyo / Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs: Both agreed that both unity and the expansion of the party's reach are important.]

Democratic Party leadership hopefuls also expressed differences in their positions while agreeing on the need for integration.

Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who visited the National Assembly and the Democratic Party immediately after his retirement ceremony this morning, and Representative Song Young-gil, who attended the inauguration ceremony of Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae, a pro-Lee figure, placed more emphasis on expansion. Meanwhile, former party leader Jung Chung-rae, who attended the inauguration of North Jeolla Province Governor Lee Won-taek, a pro-Moon figure, emphasized the integration and solidarity of the pan-democratic progressive camp.

Tensions also flared as former Prime Minister Kim took a jab at former leader Jung, asking, Is there a need to serve as party leader twice? to which Representative Choi Min-hee, an ally of Jung, retorted, Is there a need to serve as party leader after having been Prime Minister?

(Video coverage: Jung Sang-bo, Yoon Hyung | Video editing: Kim Jin-won)