[Politics, That Day...] Bus Ticket, Ring, Makgeolli Sales... 1987 Baek Giwan 'TV Speech'

TV Speech Cost for People's Candidate Baek Gi-wan Raised by 'Sip-si-il-ban' Fundraising
Call for Coalition Government by YS-DJ, Roh Tae-woo Elected Due to Yang Kim Split

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min]

Editor's Note‘Politics, That Day...’ is a series that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to notable scenes, events, and figures that deserve attention.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The movie ‘1987’ is set against the backdrop of the 1987 democratization movement, a turning point in modern Korean history. It tells the story of how the shouts of ordinary people who heated up the asphalt to overthrow military dictatorship changed the world. The four-word slogan ‘Abolish the Constitution for Protection, Overthrow Dictatorship’ adorned the front yards of universities day after day, and the pungent tear gas smoke stung the nostrils during those times.

The main demand of the people to the government at that time was to allow them to elect the president with their own hands. The presidential election by popular vote, which is now taken for granted, was then the heartfelt wish of many.

Through the so-called June 29 Declaration, the constitutional amendment for direct presidential elections became a reality, and in December 1987, the people had the opportunity to elect the president themselves. At that time, there were outstanding political leaders within the institutionalized parties, Kim Young-sam (YS) and Kim Dae-jung (DJ).

It was the year when the so-called ‘Three Kims’ ran for president: Kim Dae-jung of the Peace Democratic Party, whose support base was Honam and Seoul; Kim Young-sam of the United Democratic Party, the political powerhouse of Busan and Gyeongnam; and Kim Jong-pil of the New Democratic Republican Party, the absolute strongman of Chungnam.

Outside the institutionalized parties, a ‘people’s candidate’ with a clear progressive value line challenged the presidential election. The protagonist was Baek Ki-wan, a unification activist who declared his candidacy with the endorsement of workers, farmers, students, and urban poor.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Candidate number 8, the people’s candidate Baek Ki-wan’s challenge in the 1987 presidential election was a scene to be recorded in Korean political history.

Candidate Baek Ki-wan entered the presidential race with enthusiastic support from youth student organizations and backing from civic groups. Numerous university students across the country volunteered to counter the strong organizational power of major party candidates.

The problem was money. Running for president inevitably required a lot of money from candidate registration to campaigning and distributing promotional materials. Baek Ki-wan’s candidacy was primarily aimed at ‘spreading values.’ It was important to inform the public about why he ran, what the root problems of Korean society were, and what his solutions were.

The easiest way for presidential candidates to convey these thoughts to the public was through ‘TV speeches.’ The problem was that a considerable amount of ‘money’ was needed for a presidential candidate’s TV speech. Even in 1987, the cost of a TV speech for a presidential candidate was not trivial. Baek Ki-wan’s participation in the TV speech was itself a scene from the movie.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the 1987 presidential TV speech, Baek Ki-wan shared his story.

“I never dreamed I would have the chance to speak to you like this again today. The cost of me speaking for 20 minutes on TV is a whopping 55 million won. Every second costs 46,000 won. Where would this people’s candidate have such a large sum of money? Just yesterday, I held a large rally in Daehangno and appealed for help, and many citizens donated money so I could appear here.”

Who were the people who supported Baek Ki-wan?

“Some people gave 1,000 won or 10,000 won, but others pawned their rings and watches. A man selling Makgeolli nearby gave all his sales of 311,000 won that day. Poor students who had no money gave bus tickets, workers wrote notes of encouragement, and even riot police gave money.”

Since Baek Ki-wan was able to give the TV speech thanks to the public’s donations, he candidly continued his speech.

“What is the difference between Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo? Aren’t they the ones who massacred innocent civilians in Gwangju? Who gave the order to shoot? Who is responsible? In the name of the nation’s conscience, they must be judged and thrown into prison.”

During the harsh Chun Doo-hwan regime of the 1980s, Baek Ki-wan’s fearless message was broadcast nationwide.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Baek Ki-wan proposed political talks to YS and DJ, suggesting they discuss ways to unite the underground democratization forces. He also warned of a general uprising demanding a coalition government. The 1987 presidential election was meant not to decide the victory or defeat of a particular politician but to inherit the achievements of the June democratization movement and share its fruits with the people.

Despite Baek Ki-wan’s appeal, YS and DJ went their separate ways. Ultimately, Baek Ki-wan announced his withdrawal on December 14, 1987, two days before the election. At the time of his withdrawal, he did not disclose support for any specific candidate. It was his final gambit urging YS and DJ to make a political decision.

However, YS and DJ failed to unify, and the election was held on December 16. The final winner that day was Roh Tae-woo of the Democratic Justice Party. The electoral landscape divided by the two Kims laid the groundwork for the Democratic Justice Party’s victory. Although Roh Tae-woo won with a low vote share of 36.64%, he was elected president. YS and DJ each garnered nearly 30% of the vote, but the split allowed the Democratic Justice Party to regain power.

Thus ended the 1987 presidential election. Baek Ki-wan, who sought to represent the voices of the socially weak despite warrants, imprisonment, and torture, is no longer with us. Since his passing on the 15th, voices of mourning have continued across politics, civil society, academia, and the arts. Who was Baek Ki-wan? What message did he want to convey to the world?

Through his 1987 TV speech, he said:

“Democracy is nothing else. Democracy is about ‘making’ a world where conscientious and capable people can live.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.