청 "Lee Jae-myung Candidate Recently Requested a Meeting... Will Discuss" (Comprehensive)

by Ryu Jeongmin

Published 12 Oct.2021 15:16(KST)

Possibility of Meeting Between President Moon and Ruling Party Presidential Candidate... "Please Translate the Sentence 'Glad the Primary Was Conducted Smoothly' Literally"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] The Blue House stated that there was a recent meeting request from the Democratic Party's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung (Governor of Gyeonggi Province) side and that they are in consultation.

A key Blue House official said to reporters on the afternoon of the 12th, "(From candidate Lee Jae-myung's side) there was a recent meeting request, and we will consult."

Amid ongoing controversies surrounding the Democratic Party's presidential primary, if a meeting between President Moon Jae-in and candidate Lee takes place, it is expected to become a variable. This is because the very act of President Moon meeting the ruling party's presidential candidate carries the meaning of calming the noise surrounding the primary.

The view of the Blue House from Namsan, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Regarding President Moon sending a congratulatory message to candidate Lee immediately after the Democratic Party's presidential candidate announcement on the 10th, the Blue House said, "We hope you understand and interpret the phrase 'I am glad it proceeded smoothly' exactly as it is."

Meanwhile, the Blue House explained that President Moon's statement on the morning of the 12th, urging the prosecution and police to actively cooperate to promptly uncover the substantive truth of the Daejang-dong case, was mentioned earlier that day.

A key Blue House official said, "He spoke this morning (the 12th). He probably judged it was the right time to deliver the message," adding, "Please understand it as the phrase 'The prosecution and police should actively cooperate regarding the Daejang-dong case.'"