President Lee Jae-myung personally telephoned Jung Chung-rae, the former leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, who has been hospitalized with deteriorating health, to ask after him and wish him a swift recovery, according to political sources.
Lee spoke with Jung on the 21st before departing to attend the U.N. General Assembly, checking on his condition and offering words of comfort, political sources said on the 22nd. Jung disclosed his hospitalization on the 18th, the day Lee held a press conference, and is understood to still be receiving inpatient treatment.
Writing on Facebook the same day, Jung said: "The president diagnosed divisive language and attitudes as a disease. He stressed that we must put an end to hatred and derogatory labels." He added, "The disease of division must be treated with the medicine of unity."
On the same day he called Jung, Lee also held a telephone conversation with former President Moon Jae-in, exchanging views on state affairs and other pending issues.
The calls are seen as part of a push for unity within the progressive camp, coming after Lee posted a message on X, formerly Twitter, on the 19th urging supporters to refrain from hatred, sarcasm and emotional attacks and to instead pursue reasoned criticism and persuasion grounded in facts and goodwill.
