[On-site in] Lee Jae-myung in tears: "Remember the spirit of the candlelight... I will be a unifying president who does not divide" 'Final campaign rally' at Cheonggye Plaza

by Ku Chaeeun

by Lee Kimin

Published 08 Mar.2022 22:10(KST)

Updated 09 Mar.2022 00:33(KST)

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Final Intensive Campaign Rally on the 8th of the Presidential Election Journey
‘Gwanghwamun Cheonggye Plaza’ Rally Site
Lee Jae-myung: “We Will Realize the Dream of a Great Harmony Society by Supporting the Weak and Restricting the Strong”

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is shedding tears while singing the evergreen song chorus during the "The People's Dream is Lee Jae-myung's Dream" concentrated rally held around Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on the 8th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is appealing for support at the "The People's Dream is Lee Jae-myung's Dream" Seoul rally held around Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on the 8th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Many citizens and supporters are participating in Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate's, Seoul-focused rally titled "The People's Dream is Lee Jae-myung's Dream," held on the 8th around Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun and Lee Ki-min] At 6:25 p.m. on the 8th, at 1 Taepyeong-ro 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Gwanghwamun Cheonggye Plaza, tens of thousands of people were gathered in front of the campaign vehicle of Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea. Since a campaign event for Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, was scheduled at City Hall Plaza just 400 meters away, the security personnel formed a tight ring around the plaza. The crowd, which started between the Dong-A Ilbo headquarters and the Premier Place Building, was so dense up to the Mugyo-ro intersection that movement was difficult due to the congestion.

On that day, the Democratic Party estimated that 60,000 people gathered at the Gwanghwamun Plaza campaign site. Citizens held and waved placards that read, "Sorry Jae-myung, I repaid with my vote," and "Sorry for misunderstanding Lee Jae-myung." Some citizens shone tablet PC screens toward the stage with messages like "Earnest Jae-myung, please go to the Blue House this time," and "Desperate Jae-myung, we love you." Flags fluttered in the center of the plaza with inscriptions such as "약무호남 시무국가 若無湖南是無國家" ("Without Honam, there is no country"), "Let's smash dirty collusive politics," and "The people are the constitution." Placards saying "I work 120 hours a week vs. The president works 120 hours a week instead of me" were also noticeable. Some citizens held banners that read "Complete the Candlelight Revolution."

At around 6:55 p.m., sunset began. As the surroundings darkened, citizens turned on their smartphone lights and shone them toward the stage, creating a scene reminiscent of a "candlelight protest." Whenever Song Young-gil, party leader; Kim Dong-yeon, leader of the New Wave party; former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun; and Lee Nak-yeon, the general election committee chairman, finished their speeches, the crowd chanted their names.

Many citizens and supporters are participating in Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate's, Seoul-focused campaign rally titled "The People's Dream is Lee Jae-myung's Dream," held on the 8th around Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is appealing for support at the 'The People's Dream is Lee Jae-myung's Dream' Seoul rally held around Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on the 8th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

At 7:17 p.m., as the campaign song "Together for me, for all of us, Lee Jae-myung" played, the candidate took the stage to a burst of "Buuu!" from vuvuzelas and cheers of "Wow!" Citizens waved blue light sticks and balloons in support. The candidate appeared wearing a black half-coat and white sneakers. Walking across the T-shaped stage, he raised both arms in a cheer, drew hearts with his arms, and repeatedly opened and closed his thumbs-up fists, prompting the crowd to chant "Lee Jae-myung! Lee Jae-myung!" in response.

One day before the March 9 presidential election, at this final concentrated campaign site marking the end of the long presidential race, the candidate appeared excited. Seeing the lights filling Cheonggye Plaza, he could not hide his uplifted expression. When former President Roh Moo-hyun's voice played singing "Sangnok-su" near the end of the campaign, his eyes became moist. After the music ended, he turned his back to the stage and wiped his tears with a handkerchief.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is appealing for support at the Seoul-focused rally titled "The People's Dream is Lee Jae-myung's Dream," held on the 8th around Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is delivering a speech appealing for support at the "The People's Dream is Lee Jae-myung's Dream" Seoul rally held around Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on the 8th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

At this site, the candidate said, "Lee Jae-myung has a dream of 'strengthening the weak and restraining the strong' and a world of great harmony," adding, "Please give me the opportunity to build a great Republic of Korea together with the great people." He said, "If you give Lee Jae-myung a chance, I will become a president who overcomes the COVID-19 crisis and unites the people without division." He emphasized, "I will realize the dream of independence that Kim Gu could not achieve, the dream of peaceful reunification that President Kim Dae-jung could not fulfill, a world without unfairness and privilege that President Roh Moo-hyun could not complete, and the country that President Moon Jae-in dreamed of."

The candidate said, "This Cheonggye Plaza is the historic place where our people raised candlelight high and restored democracy in this land," and "It was the moment when the sovereigns of this country and the people proved that the president is not a ruler or king but merely a representative and servant working for the people." He added, "I believe in the greatness of our people. I believe in the high civic consciousness and collective intelligence of the people," appealing, "I want to build a great Republic of Korea that we can proudly present to the world together with the great people." The candidate said, "Just as I have come this far by looking only at the people, I will continue to trust only the people and move forward."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is delivering a speech appealing for support at the 'The People's Dream is Lee Jae-myung's Dream' Seoul rally held around Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on the 8th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

At 7:58 p.m., after the candidate finished his speech, all Democratic Party campaign committee members wearing blue jumpers came on stage. Former President Roh Moo-hyun's voice played as music began with the lyrics "Look at the green pine needles in the fields," and subtitles appeared on the big screen. Assemblyman Han Jun-ho shouted, "We will win," marking the end of the concentrated campaign at Cheonggye Plaza that day.

On the 8th, one day before the presidential election, the candidate toured densely from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Yeouido, Goyang City, Paju, Incheon Cheongna, Gyeyang, Gwangmyeong Cheolsan, Guro, and finally Gwanghwamun Cheonggye Plaza, courting the metropolitan area voters, the "most decisive battleground." According to the National Election Commission, the early voting rates in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul (cumulative from the 4th to 5th) were 33.65% and 37.23%, respectively.