What Former President Moon Jaein Told Chairman Lee Seokyeon

"Expressing Frustration with the Current Political Situation"

Former President Moon Jaein stated on December 12 that “the hatred and division spread by extremist groups are becoming increasingly serious” during a meeting with Lee Seokyeon, Chairman of the Presidential National Integration Committee.

According to Yonhap News, former President Moon made these remarks while receiving Chairman Lee’s courtesy visit at Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan, Gyeongnam on this day. He expressed concern that “it seems we are moving further away from integration,” and emphasized to Chairman Lee, “The role of the National Integration Committee is more important now than ever.”

Lee Seokyeon, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, is visiting former President Moon Jaein at Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan, Gyeongnam on the 12th. Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Chairman Lee said, “I am worried because division and conflict have intensified, including ideological polarization, as we have gone through periods of martial law and impeachment.” He added, “We will communicate based on constitutional principles and values so that even citizens with different ideological orientations can agree, and we will listen closely to the voices from the frontlines of conflict.”

Chairman Lee also told former President Moon, “Your example of returning home after retirement, reading books, and recommending them while communicating with the public has become a social model. I will sincerely value any valuable advice you offer for national integration at any time.”

During their conversation, the two also communicated through books. Chairman Lee noted that former President Moon’s reading activities after retirement have become a social inspiration and presented his own books, “Books as Food” and “A Stroll through Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian,” as gifts. In response, former President Moon recommended “The Art Museum Where People Live,” which discusses human rights stories in masterpieces, and his memoir “From the Periphery to the Center.”

Chairman Lee then visited Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan and met with Seongpa, the Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order. At the meeting, Chairman Lee asked the Buddhist community to help heal the hearts of citizens wounded during the periods of martial law and impeachment and to take the lead in promoting harmony. Seongpa responded, “It is difficult to achieve integration because everyone insists only their own views are right. We must each follow our own path, but without harming others, and coexist together.”

Meanwhile, on the previous day, Chairman Lee met with Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and said, “The National Assembly and politics are the sources of national division and public conflict.” Chairman Lee also reportedly met with Park Hyungjun, the mayor of Busan from the People Power Party, to discuss opinions on national integration.