Yoon Sings Korean Songs with Aides for Lunar New Year Greetings... 'Singing Politics' at Key Moments

"When each of us stumbles under the heavy weight of life... (Byun Jin-seop's 'Uriui Sarangi Piryohan Geujyo')."

President Yoon Seok-yeol's singing politics have resumed. It was confirmed on the 5th that on the afternoon of the 4th, President Yoon sang Byun Jin-seop's song 'Uriui Sarangi Piryohan Geujyo' in a chorus style with presidential office aides in the lobby on the first floor of the Yongsan Presidential Office, for a national greeting video to be distributed during this year's Lunar New Year holiday.

In the middle of the song, which includes lyrics such as "When each of us stumbles under the heavy weight of life...", President Yoon explained the government's goal of "creating a warm nation" and conveyed Lunar New Year greetings to the people. The video recorded that day is scheduled to be released around the 8th, coinciding with the Lunar New Year holiday.

Instead of Kim Geon-hee, who is embroiled in various risks such as the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation special prosecutor law re-request veto and luxury bag acceptance controversy, President Yoon is observed to have revived his singing politics, which he had used in political battles such as the presidential election campaign and the U.S. state visit, together with his aides.

It is reported that this reflects President Yoon's idea to find a way to give the public emotion and enjoyment, moving away from the traditional method of the presidential couple greeting the nation in hanbok in holiday videos.

Since his inauguration in May 2022, President Yoon had filmed videos greeting the public side by side with Kim Geon-hee in hanbok during Chuseok and last year's Lunar New Year and Chuseok, but this time Kim did not appear. This seems to also reflect the ongoing political turmoil and controversies surrounding Kim's luxury bag acceptance issue.

The video of President Yoon singing with his aides is interpreted as part of his "singing politics," which he has used whenever facing difficult situations.

"Even if I were born a thousand times again, there would be no one like that (Lee Seung-chul's 'Geureon Saram Tto Eopseumnida')." President Yoon gained attention in September 2021 during the presidential primary when he sang Lee Seung-chul's song 'Geureon Saram Tto Eopseumnida' on an SBS entertainment program.

At that time, his approval ratings were neck and neck with Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader and presidential primary candidate, and he was under political pressure due to gaffes and investigations related to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun's family.

However, appearing on the show about six months after resigning as Prosecutor General, he showed a humble side and commendable singing skills, which surprised many.

Especially after singing this song, he recalled, "When I was a chief prosecutor at Daegu District Prosecutors' Office in 2009, on May 23, former President Roh Moo-hyun passed away. At that time, I sang this song a lot," building a contrasting image.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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"A long, long time ago I can still remember" (Don McLean's 'American Pie'). President Yoon sang this song to U.S. President Joe Biden during a dinner on his state visit to the U.S. in April last year.

This song is known to have been a favorite of President Biden and his late eldest son, Beau Biden, former Delaware Attorney General, who passed away in 2015.

Not only political and governmental figures present at the scene but also Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the U.S. on a state visit in June last year, mentioned it to President Biden, drawing global attention.

The first verse of the song was also interpreted as symbolizing that Korea still remembers its blood ally, the U.S., with whom it fought the Korean War, on the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (Korea-U.S. alliance), adding further significance.

A presidential office official explained the planning intent of this Lunar New Year greeting video, saying, "We judged that the song aligns with the warm government and the government's role that the president has emphasized since early this year," and added, "It was an idea that came out of thinking about what would resonate better with the public than the usual uniform Lunar New Year greeting videos."

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