"Practical Steps by the Lee Jaemyung Administration
to Pursue National Unity"
The Office of the President announced on August 5 that it will invite former Presidents Moon Jae-in, Lee Myung-bak, and Park Geun-hye, as well as the spouses of the late former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun, Roh Tae-woo, and Chun Doo-hwan, to the National Appointment Ceremony to be held on Liberation Day. This decision is interpreted as an effort to put the spirit of national unity into practice.
Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung stated during a briefing that day, "Woo Sang-ho, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, will personally visit former President Moon and his wife, as well as Kwon Yang-sook (the spouse of the late President Roh Moo-hyun), to deliver invitations for the National Appointment Ceremony scheduled for the 15th."
Spokesperson Kang continued, "For former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, as well as Kim Ok-sook (the spouse of the late President Roh Tae-woo) and Lee Soon-ja (the spouse of the late President Chun Doo-hwan), Political Secretary Kim Byung-wook will coordinate schedules and personally deliver the invitations." She explained, "This is both a gesture of respect for former presidents and their spouses, and a practical step by the Lee Jae-myung administration to pursue national unity."
Regarding the reason why Secretary Kim is delivering the invitations to former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, as well as Kim Ok-sook and Lee Soon-ja, Spokesperson Kang responded, "It may not be easy for everyone to travel, and there may also be issues related to region and distance." She added, "While the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is usually responsible for the spouses of living former presidents, we have made a special adjustment for the Political Secretary to deliver the invitations directly. This should be seen as an expression of the will for unity and a gesture of respect for former first ladies, regardless of political affiliation or ideology."
Additionally, regarding President Lee's invitation of residents from Goseong County, Gangwon Province?the northernmost region?to the National Appointment Ceremony, Spokesperson Kang said, "The President always believes that regions that have made special sacrifices deserve special rewards, and I understand that this is the reason for inviting Goseong County residents to the ceremony."
Meanwhile, when announcing the National Appointment Ceremony plans on July 28, Senior Secretary Woo stated that former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife were excluded from the invitation list "because they are currently either in detention or under investigation."
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