President Lee Jae-myung, addressing rift within Democratic and progressive camps, says 'mutual hateful rhetoric is regrettable'

President Lee Jae-myung, at a press conference held at the Blue House's Yeongbin-gwan on the 18th, asked the public to dispel suspicions of a rollback in prosecutorial reform and called for unity among supporters amid deepening rifts.

In his opening remarks at the press conference, President Lee expressed regret over the exchange of hateful rhetoric within the Democratic and progressive camps, urging people not to doubt even the sincerity of their comrades over differences in path and method. He said that all those who aspire to democracy, progress, and reform are pro-Moon, pro-Roh, and pro-Kim Dae-jung figures, as well as comrades of Lee Jae-myung himself, adding that responsibility for the conflict lies greatest with himself as a member of the ruling party and the top official in charge of state affairs, and asked the public to instead fault the government for its shortcomings.

Kang Yu-jung, senior presidential press secretary, who moderated the press conference, relayed questions by reading out live-broadcast comments requesting ways to "win back the hearts of core supporters" and "block hateful speech." President Lee responded, "No matter how great the differences within our ranks, they are not as wide as the distance to the opponents we must overcome," adding, "I hope we will not belittle, despise, or hate one another."