Lee Jae-myung weeps at Roh's grave site: "Afraid another heartbreaking event might happen again"

"This Presidential Election Is Not 'Lee or Yoon' but a Choice Between 'Despair and Hope'"
On Calls for Communication: "A Sovereign Nation of the People... Naturally, We Must Communicate and Listen"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, visited Bongha Village in Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam on the 6th and wiped away tears at the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, recently shed tears repeatedly during campaign events. He said, "Essentially, I tend to be quite emotional, but I think I have held back well," adding, "As I get older, I have come to think that I should express my feelings as they are these days."

Earlier, on the 24th of last month, he cried while recalling his childhood during a campaign event in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, his 'political hometown.' Then, on the 6th, he visited the grave of the late President Roh Moo-hyun and bowed his head, sobbing quietly for about 10 seconds.

After finishing a campaign event in Cheongju City, Chungbuk Province, on the afternoon of the 23rd, Candidate Lee said on the live broadcast of the YouTube channel 'OhmyNews TV' in the segment 'My Campaign Behind Story,' "Now that I am quite old, I am becoming more emotional," and added, "Especially at the Sangdaewon Market in Seongnam City, where I have been heavily attacked and where all my past is engraved, tears came out."

He continued, "Actually, when I visited President Roh Moo-hyun's grave before, I only felt a bit choked up, but this time, there were talks about political retaliation, and recently, lawyer Kwak Sang-eon, the late President Roh's son-in-law, said that the prosecutor in charge of him was Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party's presidential candidate," and said, "At that time, the prosecution pressured him harshly, and such memories came to mind, making me think, 'What if another heartbreaking event happens again?' and 'It's so unfair.'"

Regarding his impromptu speeches at campaign events, which last about 40 minutes to an hour, he said, "My aides tell me the speeches are too long and to cut them to within 15 minutes, so I try hard to reduce them to within 20 minutes, but they usually take 30 minutes," adding, "Reporters and campaign workers say it's tough because the speeches are long, but on the other hand, I feel very sorry to those who wait on purpose if I only speak for 15 minutes and leave."

When asked what he would do if he could take a day off amid his intense campaign schedule, he laughed and replied, "If I have time to rest, I should do election campaigning." He added, "If I had to rest forcibly, I would quietly sleep a bit with my wife."

When the host mentioned that many people requested him to continue communicating steadily with the public through YouTube live broadcasts even after being elected president, Candidate Lee said, "Of course, I must communicate and listen. My belief is that real ability lies in listening well to the people's voices and fulfilling their demands. Since we are a sovereign nation of the people," he said, "We should not treat complaints as bothersome but seek them out and do as the people want. I have already planned such a (communication) system."

Regarding the presidential race, he said, "It seems to be a very close contest. It could be decided by a single vote," and added, "There is a very high possibility that the result will be decided within 300,000 to 500,000 votes."

He also said, "President Roh Moo-hyun said that the last bastion of democracy is the organized power of awakened citizens," and added, "For those around who have not yet made up their minds, if you send even one article via KakaoTalk or share your opinions in communities, it will gather and, like a butterfly's wings creating a typhoon, change the world."

He continued, "The choice on March 9 is not between Lee Jae-myung or Yoon Seok-youl, but whether to go back to a regressive and despairing country or move toward a hopeful country. That decision is what matters," and appealed for support, saying, "Lee Jae-myung is just one of the means. I trust you all."

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