Moon Jae-in heads for Nepal

Former Minjoo Party leader Moon Jae-in on Monday went on his journey to Nepal, where he will stay for a Himalaya trekking and earthquake relief activities for about four weeks.

Just before embarking on the trip, he posted on his Facebook that it feels as if “going on a long-distance march I used to do during service at a parachute unit of the special forces,” and that he will “empty and refill the mind while trekking.”

It is Moon’s second time going to the Himalayas: he headed to Nepal in 2004 after resigning presidential secretary for civil affairs, but had to come back soon as President Roh Moo-hyun faced impeachment.

His Nepal trip is deemed as a manifestation of his will to keep a distance from politics. The party explained that Moon intends to stay away from the party convention to be held soon. It is to avoid a situation where unnecessary disputes are triggered due to his words or actions amid the heated strife for party hegemony, given his previous position as the leader of the "pro-Roh" faction. The high possibility of the "Moon’s reform plan" to be either abolished or modified is likely another factor, which made him uncomfortable.

During the retreat, Moon hopes to clear his thoughts on the political strategy toward the next presidential elections. He is scheduled to return on July 8, but it is subject to change depending on political circumstances.

Meanwhile, the ruling party is strongly against Moon’s claim that the government and the ruling party are responsible for the recent death of a 19-year-old subway technician. Saenuri floor leader Chung Jin-suk said in the party meeting on Monday, “Moon is the one who is directly related to the unfair recruitment practice of Seoul Metro,” pointing out that the former auditor was one of Moon’s closest right arms.