"Breathless national schedule...national opinion sharing place"
Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Presidential Office
Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Presidential Office, visited the National Assembly on June 22 to congratulate Kim Jun-hyung, Representative of the Jo Kuk Innovation Party, on his inauguration. 2026.6.22 nowwego@yna.co.kr
Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Presidential Office, said that President Lee Jae-myung's luncheon with former President Moon Jae-in on July 1st was "something that has been pursued since right after his inauguration."
Hong said in a post on Facebook that morning, "In the midst of the breathless national schedule for normalization of Korea, it is something that has not been achieved yet," and added.
He said, "We have continued to coordinate schedules, and coincidentally, both of them were available on July 1st, so we will have lunch together."
Hong said, "The achievements of the past year were possible because of the foundation laid by the Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in administrations," adding, "Now is the time to create changes that the people can feel in their daily lives based on those achievements."
He added, "The meeting with former President Moon is expected to be a meaningful occasion for listening to his advice as a former president for the recovery of people's livelihoods, national unity, and the success of the government of national sovereignty, and for openly exchanging opinions on all aspects of state affairs."
President Lee Jae-myung and former President Moon Jae-in
President Lee Jae-myung and former President Moon Jae-in are greeting each other at the inauguration ceremony of the 21st President held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on August 15 last year. 2025.8.15 hihong@yna.co.kr
Earlier, the Presidential Office announced on June 25th that President Lee would have lunch with former President Moon at the Presidential Office on July 1st.
Regarding this, there has been analysis in the political circles that President Lee may be meeting with former President Moon to "manage the situation" as the factional conflict within the ruling party has intensified ahead of the recent party convention.
Hong's emphasis on the fact that this meeting has been continuously pursued for the past year is interpreted as an attempt to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings from arising from this meeting.
water@yna.co.kr