The Invisible Man's Friend 'Bus No. 6411' and 'The Resonance of Roh Hoe-chan' [Politics, That Day...]

Buses Running Every Dawn Between Guro and Gangnam for Ordinary People... Roh Hoe-chan Party Leader's Acceptance Speech, a Message of Reflection

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] ‘Politics, That Day…’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to notable scenes, events, or figures.

The memorial cultural festival for the late Roh Hoe-chan, floor leader of the Justice Party, is being held on July 26, 2018, at Yonsei University Auditorium in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Citizens who could not attend are participating in the memorial service through video outside. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

“There is a bus number 6411. It is a route bus that departs from Garosu Park in Guro-gu, Seoul, passes through Gangnam, and takes about two hours to reach Gaepo-dong Jugong Apartment Complex 2. Tomorrow morning, this bus will also depart exactly at 4 a.m. Fifteen minutes after departure, when it passes Sindorim and Guro Market, the seats are fully occupied, and a remarkable scene unfolds daily where one by one, passengers sit on the floor in the bus aisle.”

The acceptance speech of Roh Hoe-chan, then leader of the progressive party, on October 21, 2012, was special. It was not an acceptance speech wrapped in ‘political rhetoric’ about what he would do for the nation and history. Shedding the cloak of grandiosity, he unfolded the story containing a tale related to the ‘6411 bus’ filled with the scent of humanity.

Leader Roh Hoe-chan said, “The people who ride this bus wake up at 3 a.m. and have to arrive at office buildings in Gangnam by 5:30 a.m.,” adding, “No one knows that the 6411 bus departing at 4 a.m. and 4:05 a.m. is almost full from the starting point, and after dropping off ladies in their 50s and 60s at various stops in Gangnam, it heads toward the terminus.”

The reason Leader Roh shared the story related to bus 6411 during his party leader acceptance speech is connected to questions about the role of political parties and politicians. It is a call to look at where those who declared to change the world and to embark on the path of politics on behalf of someone are now and what they are doing.

The 6411 bus is a story about our neighbors who head to work every dawn with weary bodies. It is a story about their fascinating, or rather mysterious, world, whose names we do not know but whose lives we understand well.

Photos are attached to the door of the late Assemblyman Roh Hoe-chan's office in the National Assembly Members' Office Building during the funeral service of the late Justice Party Assemblyman Roh Hoe-chan held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on July 27, 2018. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The reason why those who take the bus at the same time every morning get off at the same place (mostly the building-filled Gangnam) is well known to the users of the 6411 early morning bus. Leader Roh said, “Many office workers like sons and daughters come and go in those buildings, but no one is aware that those buildings are cleaned and maintained by ladies who arrive at work at 5:30 a.m.”

Those whom office workers call ‘ajummas’ or cleaners, Leader Roh likened them to ‘invisible people.’ He said, “They are people who cannot even watch the 9 o’clock news and have to go to bed early. So these people might not know Yoo Si-min, Sim Sang-jung, or even me, Roh Hoe-chan.”

Leader Roh asked, “Does that mean their lives were never hard? When these people looked for someone like us amid their hardships, where were we? Were we in front of their eyes? Were we within their reach? Were we in a place where their voices could be heard?”

Leader Roh called for self-reflection among Korean political parties, especially progressive parties. Rather than scolding with solemn language, he conveyed his message through his characteristic witty story.

Leader Roh said, “In fact, until now, we have been like a transparent party to these people. We shout loudly that we are doing politics, but when these people needed us, when they were within reach, we were not there,” adding, “A party that existed but was invisible, a transparent party ? that has been the image of progressive parties in Korea so far.”

He pointed out the fact that although they pledged to listen to the voices from the lower parts of society, they have gradually been repeating the evils of established politics.

Leader Roh’s 6411 bus speech that day is one of the most memorable acceptance speeches among party leaders. It was a message encouraging those who experience the power of politics at the periphery of power to look back on their lives and the paths they have taken.

The founding commemorative performance of the 'Equal and Fair Nation Roh Hoe-chan Foundation,' established to carry on the late Roh Hoe-chan, Justice Party lawmaker's dream, was held at the Multipurpose Hall of Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul. Film director Byun Young-joo is hosting the event. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Where is Korean politics heading now? Is it the image of a party that does not ignore the hard lives of invisible people and strives to join hands with them? Or is it the image of those who, aiming to seize power that is less than a handful, resort to foul play and shortcuts while shouting ‘Forward march’?

With less than three months remaining until the 21st general election, Leader Roh Hoe-chan’s 6411 bus speech is something politicians and those around them should reflect on at least once. Leader Roh has already passed away. He is no longer of this world, but the message he left remains as a seed of change that can transform real politics.

The closing of that speech, which conveyed the story related to bus 6411, was as follows.

“It is said that the wider the river flows downward. Our mass political parties will not be realized otherwise than by descending to lower places.”