President Lee Jae-myung holds 4-hour dinner with Chung Chung-rae

President Lee Jae-myung held a four-hour dinner with former Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Chung Chung-rae at the presidential office on October 1, forming deep common ground on key policy issues and party matters. Kang Yu-jung, senior presidential spokesperson, said on Wednesday, "President Lee had dinner today with former Chairman Chung Chung-rae at the presidential office, with Chief Secretary Kang Hoon-sik in attendance." She added that "over four hours, they engaged in candid conversations on a wide range of policy issues and party matters and formed deep common ground."

Former Chairman Chung was hospitalized after his health deteriorated due to accumulated fatigue following the Democratic Party's national convention on August 17, and was recently discharged. His hospitalization was disclosed on September 18 through his own Facebook page. Before departing on September 21 to attend the UN General Assembly and visit Mexico, President Lee called Chung, who was hospitalized at the time, to check on his condition and offer words of comfort.

In political circles, some interpret the president's dinner as being linked to the nomination of Kim Ji-yong as head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. The presidential office has said it will proceed with the confirmation process for Kim despite some opposition within the ruling camp. As resistance to Kim, a former prosecutor, continues mainly among hard-line advocates of prosecutorial reform, the meeting with former Chairman Chung, who has demanded sweeping prosecutorial reform, is seen as a move aimed at preventing a split among supporters and fostering party unity.

Kim's appointment will go through a National Assembly confirmation hearing, and President Lee has said he will decide whether to ultimately appoint Kim after the hearing.