Lee Jae-Myung Vows to Revive Inter-Korean Hotline if Elected President

 

South Korean presidential hopeful Lee Jae-Myung has pledged to restore formal communication with North Korea by reviving the inter-Korean hotline, signaling a bold diplomatic move aimed at reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking at a campaign event in Incheon on Sunday, Lee emphasized that dialogue, not division, should define the future of the Korean people. “We cannot build peace with silence. If elected, my first international priority will be to reestablish the suspended inter-Korean hotline and create a foundation for dialogue,” he stated.

The direct hotline, established in 2018 as a confidence-building measure between Seoul and Pyongyang, has experienced several interruptions most recently in 2023 when the North Korean regime unilaterally severed contact amid rising military drills and sanctions.

Lee, a former governor of Gyeonggi Province and a prominent figure in the Democratic Party, has long advocated for engagement over confrontation when dealing with North Korea. His new promise signals a return to the “Sunshine Policy” era of proactive diplomacy that dominated the early 2000s under presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.

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“Our people deserve a future without the looming threat of war,” Lee said. “We may not agree with the North’s regime, but we must talk because the cost of silence is too high.”

His campaign outlined a three-point plan for peace that includes:

• Restoring the military and civilian hotlines;

• Hosting a high-level summit in Panmunjom within the first year of his presidency;

• Launching a new inter-Korean economic forum to explore trade and humanitarian cooperation.

Public Response and Political Reactions

Lee’s peace-oriented policy is generating both support and criticism. Younger South Koreans, many of whom have never seen meaningful cross-border reconciliation, have expressed hope on social media that diplomacy could open new economic and cultural doors.

However, conservatives argue that trust in North Korea has repeatedly been broken. Yoo Seung-min, a rival candidate from the conservative People Power Party, criticized Lee’s promise as “dangerously naïve,” warning that “North Korea uses talks as cover while advancing its missile program.”

A recent poll by KBS News shows 51% of South Koreans support reactivating the hotline, while 39% remain skeptical, citing Pyongyang’s repeated provocations and missile tests.

Lee’s vow has drawn attention from foreign diplomats. A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Dobblog that the Biden administration would “welcome any responsible efforts to de-escalate tensions,” while urging any future South Korean government to maintain pressure on North Korea regarding nuclear disarmament.

Meanwhile, North Korea has yet to respond to Lee’s campaign remarks. Analysts suggest Pyongyang is closely monitoring the South’s political landscape before making any public moves.

As South Korea inches toward its presidential election in late 2025, inter-Korean relations are expected to become a major campaign issue. With growing uncertainty in the region from China’s assertiveness to shifting U.S. alliances Lee’s approach offers a vision that blends peace, national pride, and practical diplomacy.

Whether that vision resonates with voters remains to be seen but one thing is certain: the call for dialogue is once again echoing across the 38th parallel.

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