Lee Jun-seok Recalls 'Park Aide Accident': "We Also Have Trauma... Sympathize with People's Party Shock"

"Lost a member of the campaign team during 2012 election rally"
"Our party will also issue safety inspection guidelines"

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, is seen with a somber expression as he leaves the funeral hall at Dankook University Hospital in Cheonan, where the deceased from the fatal accident that occurred on the campaign bus on the afternoon of the 15th are laid to rest. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, expressed his condolences over the accident in which two people died from carbon monoxide poisoning inside the campaign bus of the People’s Party.

On the 15th, Lee wrote on his Facebook, "I just finished election activities today and heard about the tragic accident involving the People’s Party campaign workers."

He added, "Our party also experienced trauma from losing a member of our campaign team in a tragic accident during the 2012 election, so I believe we can empathize with the shock the People’s Party must be feeling."

He emphasized, "We will issue guidelines to thoroughly recheck safety at every stage of our election process."

The accident Lee referred to was the death of Lee Chunsang, who was a secretary to then Saenuri Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) presidential candidate Park Geun-hye in 2012. Lee was known as a close aide to Park.

On December 2, 2012, on National Road No. 44 in Duchon-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon, a Carnival van carrying six people, including Lee Chunsang, an aide to then Saenuri Party presidential candidate Park Geun-hye, crashed into the speed camera pole on the right side of the road / Photo by Hongcheon Fire Station

On December 2, 2012, Lee was accompanying Park during her campaign in the Gangwon region when the van he was riding in was involved in an accident while heading to the final campaign site in Chuncheon. The van collided with a vehicle in the adjacent lane on a national highway in Duchon-myeon, Hongcheon County, then slid about 200 meters before hitting a steel pillar installed for speed enforcement and came to a stop.

Lee was rushed to a nearby hospital but reportedly passed away en route. Five members of the Saenuri Party’s campaign publicity team who were in the same vehicle sustained moderate to serious injuries and were hospitalized for treatment.

Immediately after the accident, Park visited the hospital where Lee was taken, confirmed his death, and reportedly wept for about 20 minutes. That evening, she visited the funeral hall set up at Seoul Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital to console the bereaved family and suspended campaign activities such as logo songs and choreographed movements for the day.

She also posted a tribute on social media platforms like Twitter, saying, "Lee Chunsang, who selflessly and devotedly helped us for 15 years, suddenly passed away, and my heart aches deeply."

Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier on the 15th, two people, a bus driver and a party member, died from carbon monoxide poisoning on the campaign bus of Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party presidential candidate. That day marked the first official day of the 20th presidential election campaign.

According to the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, at around 5:20 p.m., A, a bus driver in his 50s, and B, a party member in his 60s, were found collapsed inside Ahn’s 45-seat campaign bus parked in front of Shinsegae Department Store in Sinbu-dong, Cheonan City, Chunam.

At the time of discovery, both were unconscious while seated on the bus seats, and no external injuries were reported. They were immediately transported to a nearby hospital but ultimately passed away.

The bus was a modified vehicle used to promote candidate Ahn, equipped with a large screen on the outside. The screen was powered by a self-generating device inside the vehicle. Police suspect that carbon monoxide generated by this device leaked into the bus interior, causing the two to suffocate.

Following the accident, candidate Ahn expressed condolences to the driver and party member and decided to suspend campaign activities temporarily to focus on managing the aftermath.

At around 2:45 a.m. on the 16th, after visiting the funeral hall for the two deceased, he told reporters, "Those who helped us have suffered such an unexpected accident, and I am deeply shocked. We will do everything we can to manage the aftermath. For now, we are suspending all campaign activities today and will do our best to determine the cause."

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