Chairman Lee Seok-yeon of the National Unity Committee attends a meeting of presidential advisory councils and committees held at Cheong Wa Dae on the 21st. [Cheong Wa Dae Communications Photojournalists Association] 

Lee Seok-yeon, Chairman of the National Unity Committee, stated at a meeting chaired by President Lee Jae-myung on the 21st, "Policies should not be decided without the expression of dissenting opinions."

His remarks drew attention as they came after the chairman strongly criticized a warning email he received from a civil servant in the Presidential Office for National Unity the previous day, calling it "abuse of power."

Speaking to Yonhap News in a phone call, Chairman Lee stated that he made these remarks while attending the "Meeting of Presidential Advisory Councils and Committees" at Cheong Wa Dae, emphasizing, "We must escape the danger of groupthink."

Chairman Lee argued that discussions among members with similar opinions can lead to an inability to accept different perspectives.

Furthermore, Chairman Lee proposed, "There are times when we must transcend this government's state administration philosophy to achieve complete national unity. If state affairs are managed solely within the framework of this government's philosophy, there is a risk of achieving only half-hearted unity."

"Now that it has been a year since your inauguration, and with the local elections concluded, you must demonstrate genuine efforts towards unity. I will play the role of the instigator," he added.

It is reported that the "abuse of power email incident" raised by Chairman Lee the previous day was not openly discussed at the meeting.

While President Lee remarked, "I trust that you will freely criticize and offer advice, but I believe you will also understand that the 'principles of organization' operate as part of the state apparatus," he did not specify what particular matters he had in mind.

Nevertheless, the aftermath of the clash between Chairman Lee and the Presidential Office for National Unity the previous day appears to be ongoing.

Jeon Seong-hwan, Senior Secretary for Listening and National Unity, who oversees the Presidential Office for National Unity, called Chairman Lee the previous day, but the chairman did not answer.

Instead, Chairman Lee reportedly sent a text message to Secretary Jeon, stating, "The civil servant (who sent the email) was merely used as a tool. The secretary is behind it. Furthermore, it must be revealed what role the senior secretary played in the process."

Earlier, Chairman Lee had issued a press release the previous day, revealing an email sent by a civil servant from the Presidential Office for National Unity urging the submission of documents. He criticized it, stating, "In my more than 40 years of public service, I have never experienced such disrespectful behavior. This kind of abuse of power and excessive intervention is never desirable."