President Lee Jae-myung Appeals to Supporters for Unity and Restraint

President Lee Jaemyung has repeatedly urged the ruling party’s support base to reduce conflict and move toward unity. On the 20th, the president posted on X, asking people to stop hate and emotional attacks and to engage in criticism and persuasion based on facts. Earlier, at a press conference on the 18th, President Lee also referred to supporters of the proMoon, proRoh, and proKim Daejung camps together as “comrades.” This is interpreted as a message aimed at easing distrust and backlash within the support base and reducing the burden of state administration. At the heart of the conflict is the appointment of Kim Jiyong, the nominee for the inaugural head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. As backlash continues among some supporters over Kim, a former prosecutor, the presidential office is reconsidering the selection process. At the same time, issues surrounding leadership in the followup measures to prosecution reform and between the Democratic Party of Korea and the Rebuilding Korea Party remain a source of tension within the ruling bloc.