Lee Jun-seok Holds Tearful Press Conference... Why?

Lee Jun-seok Breaks Down in Tears
Calls for Reform After Gangseo By-election Defeat
Moved by Stories of the Fallen Marine and Colonel Park Jung-hoon

On October 16, former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok held a tearful press conference. He called for President Yoon Suk-yeol to acknowledge the mistakes made over the past 17 months and to overhaul the overall management of state affairs. During the event, Lee struggled to contain his emotions.

Why did he shed tears?

On October 16, at the National Assembly's communication center, Lee put forward the four-character idiom "gyeoljaehaeji" (結者解之, meaning that those who make mistakes must resolve them). He urged President Yoon Suk-yeol and the People Power Party to pursue reform following the crushing defeat in the Seoul Gangseo District mayoral by-election. Notably, Lee was visibly unable to hold back his tears during this process. While reading his statement in a calm tone, he broke down at this particular passage:

[Image source=Yonhap News]

"A prosecutor who once said he would not be loyal to any individual established the legal principle that even if the president does not directly receive a bribe, the law can still apply strictly to the highest offices by viewing them as an economic community. The determination of Colonel Park Jung-hoon, head of the Marine Corps investigation team, to conduct a thorough investigation so that the injustice suffered by a 41-year-old Marine, born through IVF, would not be repeated, may most closely resemble the attitude of a prosecutor who investigated without sacred cows. Yet now, not only is he being prevented from investigating, but the government and the ruling party are collectively lynching him."

Lee became especially emotional when mentioning the story of a Marine who died during a search for missing persons in heavy rains without even basic equipment such as a life jacket, and the subsequent ordeal faced by Colonel Park Jung-hoon, who is being persecuted while seeking the truth behind the soldier's death.

Lee's tears appeared to be an unexpected variable that had not been anticipated in advance. His tears began during the story about the Marine Corps, and he tried to hold them back by shaking his head and wiping his eyes with his hand and sleeve. Eventually, he was so choked up that he struggled to continue speaking. Because of this, an aide waiting outside the press room rushed in to hand him tissues.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

An aide to Lee explained the tears, saying, "Some people lose their lives while serving the country (the Marine), and others (Colonel Park) are fighting at the cost of their honor as soldiers, but within our party (People Power Party), we see people shirking responsibility. Remembering these things overwhelmed him with emotion."

In the past, Lee has also been seen shedding tears over those who dedicated themselves to the country. In June 2021, while running for party leader, he drew attention for crying during a meeting with the families of survivors of the Cheonan warship incident. In response to an opposition figure's remark to former Cheonan Captain Choi Won-il, accusing him of "drowning all his precious subordinates," Lee said, "Even after 11 years, I am appalled that there are still attempts to belittle and insult the surviving crew and the bereaved families. Some are still paying for their own trauma treatments 11 years later-must they be insulted like this? Whatever else may be said, this is simply too cruel."

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