Lee Jae-myung has dinner with Kim Jong-in... "I called occasionally..."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met with Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, on the afternoon of the 12th at a location in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, to have dinner together. Lee greeted Kim, who arrived first, by calling him "Representative" and exchanged pleasantries.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (left), and Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, are greeting each other at a restaurant in Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 12th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

As soon as Lee entered the restaurant, he shook hands with Kim and said, "The media is interested because I said I was coming to see you, Representative. It seems your popularity is still strong." He also asked, "How is your wife’s health?" Kim told reporters at the restaurant, "I have nothing special to say," but responded to Lee by saying, "You look well."

Lee said, "It seems it has been quite a while since we last met," and added, "I called you occasionally, but I was worried because you appeared on TV with this (bandage) on your forehead." Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, Kim appeared on CBS Radio and mentioned, "I fell early in the morning and cut my forehead, but when I tried to call 22 places to go to the emergency room, no one answered." Kim also came with a bandage on his forehead that day.

Kim told Lee, "You have succeeded despite going through many difficulties." Lee smiled and said, "Because there is a process," then asked, "How do you manage your health?" Kim replied, "If your mind is at ease, you become healthy," and added, "If you don’t have unnecessary greed, there is nothing to worry about." He continued, "There are many things to worry about, but you cannot force a solution; you have to leave it to follow the natural order." Lee responded, "That is true."

On the previous day (the 11th), Lee met with Lee Sang-don, former member of the People’s Party and honorary professor at Chung-Ang University, to exchange congratulations on his election and discuss current issues. A spokesperson from the Democratic Party leader’s office said that Lee listened attentively to advice on political management while having lunch with the former law professor of Chung-Ang University, who was Lee’s university mentor.