Moon Jae-in Urges Kim Minseok: “Party Convention Has Deepened Wounds Among Members... Strive for Unity”

On August 19, former President Moon Jaein met with Kim Minseok, the newly appointed leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and urged greater inclusiveness and unity within the party, stating, "It seems that deep wounds have formed among party members during this national convention process."

Kim Minseok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited former President Moon Jaein's private residence in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan City, Gyeongnam Province on the 19th. After greeting former President Moon and his wife, he departed the residence while being seen off by former President Moon. Photo by Yonhap News

According to senior spokesperson Park Sungjoon of the Democratic Party, former President Moon made these remarks during a meeting at his private residence in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, Gyeongnam Province with Kim Minseok and other new party leadership members.

Former President Moon said, "Because the competition was so fierce, it seems that the wounds among party members run deep. The prevalence of derisive, contemptuous, and hateful language is one of the reasons for these internal wounds, and these factors further fuel conflicts within the party." He then requested that Kim Minseok "make special efforts so that the party can achieve inclusiveness and unity."

Kim Minseok responded by referencing former President Moon's emphasis during his own tenure as leader of the Democratic Party that "attitude is at the core of politics." He said, "The dignity of both language and attitude are important virtues in politics. We will work at the party level, including launching campaigns, to prevent derisive, hateful, and contemptuous language from spreading within the party."

Earlier that morning, Kim Minseok had paid his respects at the tomb of former President Roh Moohyun in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province, before moving on to Pyeongsan Village. This is seen as an effort to overcome the factional strife that erupted during the national convention and to promote party unity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.