Lee appeals to conservatives via luncheon with high-profile figure

President Lee Jae Myung appears to be broadening his appeal to conservative voters ahead of the June 3 local elections, recently hosting a luncheon with Hong Joon-pyo, a key conservative politician. Hong has been a high-profile, right-leaning politician, most recently serving as the mayor of Daegu, a longstanding conservative stronghold, from July 2022 to April 2025. Cheong Wa Dae described the luncheon on Friday as being held “in the interest of national unity,” referring to a deepening political divide between conservatives and liberals. Nevertheless, political sources reckon that the meeting carries broader implications, considering Hong left the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) last year. With just over 40 days remaining until the local elections, Hong also publicly endorsed former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea’s candidate for Daegu mayor. “Under the circumstances, Friday’s luncheon clearly signals Lee’s intent to expand toward centrist and conservative voters,” Park Sang-byung, a political commentator, said Sunday. Shin Yul, a po

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