Pro-Moon Lawmaker Yoon Says Lee-Moon Meeting a "Summit of Grandmasters"

Rep. Yoon Kun-young of the Democratic Party said Tuesday that the luncheon meeting between President Lee Jae-myung and former President Moon Jae-in was, "in martial arts fiction terms, a meeting of grandmasters," adding that as the former and current top leaders of Korea, they would discuss a wide range of topics. Regarding the so-called "orthodoxy debate" that has recently emerged amid the party leadership contest, he criticized it as "a pointless exercise."

Yoon made the remarks in an interview on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" that day, describing the event as "a meeting between the person who was Korea's top leader until recently and the top leader now guiding Korea at the present time." Yoon served as director of the situation room under the Moon Jae-in administration and is a close confidant of the former president.

Asked whether the topics of the conversation had been coordinated in advance, Yoon said, "Proposing topics for the conversation would be too awkward. It seems inappropriate to place limits on their moves." He added, "The two have much in common," noting, "Both were presidents elected right after an impeachment, so neither had a transition committee, and Trump being their partner in relations with the U.S. is also a common point. Inter-Korean relations are also very tangled — a shared situation — so given their fellow-feeling in similar circumstances, I think they will have much to talk about."

Regarding the intensifying internal party conflict ahead of the Aug. 17 national convention, Yoon said, "Of course they would discuss it," adding, "I hope today's luncheon becomes an occasion to start resolving intra-party issues and current political matters." He further noted, "When President Lee was party leader, the two met and coined the new term 'Myung-Moon party,' raising the level of unity."

On the orthodoxy debate that has stirred friction among the leadership contenders, Yoon said it was "completely out of step with what the public cares about," criticizing, "What should emerge is a vision of the ruling party leader for how to transform the party into a party of the future and how to change Korea, but instead they are engaged in a pointless debate." He continued, "I think some are muddying the waters, and I hope they change course quickly," pointing out, "Continuing this meaningless debate will win them no support from the public, nor within the party."

However, on the "reconstruction theory" raised by writer Rhyu Si-min in criticism of President Lee, Yoon said, "Setting aside positive or negative judgment, I wish people would listen to (Rhyu's opinion) once. Aren't they just rushing to condemn it?" adding, "It's not as if Rhyu said it out of political self-interest." Yoon defended him, saying, "I think Rhyu's message is a kind of preventive vaccine," and, "I don't think the expression itself was appropriate. But Rhyu is a commentator, not a player on the field."

Regarding the party's "pro-Moon" (pro-Moon Jae-in) faction, Yoon said, "Who is pro-Moon? In political circles, when you say 'You're pro-Moon,' everyone runs away saying 'No, I'm not,'" adding, "There are only a few people, including me, who confidently say they are pro-Moon." He continued, "For the pro-Moon faction to revive, the former president would have to run, but he has not a single ounce of intention to do politics," saying, "During the Moon Jae-in administration everyone was pro-Moon, and during the Lee Jae-myung administration everyone is pro-Lee."

Asked about the former president's reaction to derogatory expressions such as "Mun-jo-tul-rae-yu" aimed at the pro-Moon camp within the party, Yoon said, "He rarely expresses it," but revealed the former president's discomfort, saying, "But think about it in common-sense terms. He is living a retired life, running a small bookstore in his region and mingling with neighbors, and then out of nowhere they say 'Mun-jo-tul-rae-yu' — that's not exactly a pleasant situation, is it?"