Photo : YONHAP News
President Lee Jae Myung is expected to be welcomed by both Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae when he returns from his trip to Europe on Thursday.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Wednesday that government officials, including the prime minister and the vice interior minister, as well as the Democratic Party leadership, including the party leader and floor leader, will attend the arrival ceremony.
When Lee departed for Europe on June 9, Jung and other ruling party leaders did not attend the send-off event, with only government officials, including Kim, present.
The absence of the ruling party leadership was viewed as highly unusual, given the customary practice of party leaders seeing off the president on overseas trips.
Jung’s decision not to attend gave rise to speculation, particularly as he and Kim are widely seen as potential rivals in the race to choose the party’s next leader.