President Lee Jae-myung Returns Home; Democratic Party Leader Greets with '90-Degree Bow'

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung returned home yesterday (June 18) after concluding his tour of Europe. Democratic Party Leader Jung Chung-rae, who was absent from the send-off ceremony when the President departed, attended the welcome event and greeted President Lee with a 90-degree bow. Later, Leader Jung remarked to a fellow lawmaker, "Isn't life about getting wet as you go?"

Reporter Park Yerim has the story.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung returned to Seoul Air Base yesterday morning, wrapping up a ten-day European tour that included his attendance at the G7 Summit.

The airport welcome ceremony was attended by government officials, including Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, as well as Democratic Party leadership, such as Leader Jung Chung-rae and Floor Leader Han Byung-do, who had not attended the departure event.

Leader Jung bowed 90 degrees, and President Lee responded with a handshake and a brief greeting.

[President Lee Jae-myung: You have worked hard.]

Leader Jung’s absence from the send-off ceremony on the 9th had sparked rumors of friction between the party and the presidential office regarding responsibility for the June 3 local elections. With both Prime Minister Kim and Leader Jung attending yesterday's welcome ceremony, attention is focused on whether these rumors of conflict will subside.

Later, at a general meeting of Democratic Party lawmakers, Leader Jung quoted a line from a poem by Do Jong-hwan, which is being interpreted as an indirect expression of his current state of mind.

[Kim Jong-ho/Democratic Party Lawmaker: Oh, you must be having a hard time lately.]

[Jung Chung-rae/Democratic Party Leader: Where is there a life that isn't difficult? Isn't life about being shaken and getting wet as you go?]

President Lee is scheduled to hold a press briefing today to discuss the outcomes of his European tour.

Attention is also on whether he will address domestic issues, including the rumors of friction between the party and the presidential office.

(Video coverage: Jung Sang-bo, Yoon Hyung | Video editing: Nam Il)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.