DP's rival Lees meet at funeral as party leader seeks unity

Politics

Published: 09 Apr. 2023, 19:15

DP's rival Lees meet at funeral as party leader seeks unity

Former Democratic Party leader and Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon,left, and incumbent party leader Lee Jae-myung, right walks side by side at Samsung Medical Center’s funeral home in Gangnam, southern Seoul, on Sunday. It is their first meeting in more than a year. Lee Nak-yon left for U.S. in June last year. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung met with predecessor Lee Nak-yon for the first time since the party lost the presidential race more than a year ago.

The two reportedly met for 20 minutes at Samsung Medical Center’s funeral home, where Lee Nak-yon’s father-in-law lay in state.

According to Han Min-soo, DP spokesperson, the two had a brief exchange.

“Lee Jae-myung expressed his condolences, and Lee Nak-yon thanked him for coming,” Han said.

The spokesman said the two did not discuss politics and only limited the conversation to Lee Nak-yon’s life in the U.S. and the funeral.

The meeting took place a year since Lee Jae-myung lost the presidential election in March 2022. Lee Nak-yon left for the U.S. in June of the same year.

The meeting between the two Lees drew significant attention, particularly as they have competed fiercely since 2021 for the presidential nomination.

During the primary, Lee Nak-yon raised questions about the Daejang-dong development scandal, in which Lee Jae-myung has been implicated.

The Daejang-dong scandal involves a group of private developers led by former journalist Kim Man-bae, who has strong connections to the judiciary, including judges and special prosecutors.

The development approvals were made by Lee Jae-myung when he was the mayor of Seongnam. Lee claimed the development was the biggest success since Korea was founded.

Since the prosecutors have been seeking the arrest of Lee Jae-myung, his supporters have blamed Lee Nak-yon for the legal conundrum.

The DP-controlled National Assembly voted against the request for the court to consider the arrest of Lee Jae-myung last month.

The vote was close, as some DP members may have voted against Lee Jae-myung.

DP lawmakers voiced their concerns about Lee Jae-myung’s hold on the party, including Lee Sang-min, Cho Eung-cheon and Kim Jong-min.

Lee Jae-myung’s supporters include former President Moon Jae-in.

He has been trying to unite the party, including those against him, especially with the general election less than a year away.

The meeting between the two Lees has been seen as an opportunity for the party leader to mend the relationship with Lee Nak-yon.

One middle-aged man at the hospital shouted at Lee Jae-myung.

“How could a person who has asked his supporters to oust Lee Nak-yon show up here?” the man said.

Lee Nak-yon is expected to stay for another week before returning to Washington, where he currently resides.

He is expected to return to Korea in June.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also met with Lee Nak-yon and the family.

Although Han was at the funeral for 30 minutes, he said “nothing in particular” was discussed.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]