President Lee Jae-myung spoke by telephone with former President Moon Jae-in on the 21st, exchanging views on domestic policy and diplomatic issues.
"While the president and the former president were exchanging greetings and good wishes ahead of the Chuseok holiday, they also exchanged views on state affairs," a presidential office official said. Explaining the background to the call, the official said the intent was "to listen to views on running the government and on national unity."
According to political sources, Lee placed the call himself on the morning of the 21st before departing for New York. Moon was said to have told Lee that he had watched the president's news conference on the 18th with interest.
The two also discussed Lee's upcoming keynote address to the United Nations General Assembly on the 22nd, as well as recent issues between Seoul and Washington, sources said.
In July, Lee invited Moon to the presidential office for lunch, where the two agreed on the importance of unity within the liberal camp and national reconciliation. With Lee recently addressing internal friction within his own party and issuing a series of messages calling for unity among his supporters, the call with Moon is seen as another effort to underscore solidarity and cohesion among his base.
