Hong Ik-pyo: Meeting Between Lee Jae-myung and Moon Jae-in Was Planned Since Right After Inauguration... "We Will Listen to Their Advice"

[Financial News] Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, said on the 27th that President Lee Jae-myung's luncheon with former President Moon Jae-in on the 1st of next month had been planned since right after his inauguration.
In a post on his social media account earlier in the day, Hong said, "The meeting between President Lee and former President Moon was not held earlier because of the hectic state affairs schedule needed to normalize South Korea." He added, "We have continued to coordinate the schedule, and now that both of them are available on July 1, they will have lunch together."
Hong emphasized, "The achievements of the past year were possible because of the foundation laid by the Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in administrations." He added, "Now is the time to build on those achievements and create changes that people can feel in their daily lives."
He also said, "I expect the meeting with former President Moon to be a meaningful occasion to hear his advice and exchange candid views on state affairs in general for the recovery of livelihoods, national unity, and the success of the people's sovereign government."
Earlier, the Blue House announced on the 25th that President Lee had invited Moon to the Blue House for a luncheon on the 1st of next month.
Political circles view the meeting as an effort to ease intensifying factional tensions within the ruling bloc ahead of the party convention. Hong's explanation that the meeting had been in the works for the past year appears aimed at preventing unnecessary misunderstandings.
act@fnnews.com Choi A-young Reporter