[Politics, That Day...] Son Hak-kyu, Known as the 'Loyalty Politics' Icon

Son Hak-kyu, Driving Lee Chan-yeol's 2009 Election Victory "Must Raise Talent with Loyalty"... Lee Chan-yeol, Parting with Son Hak-kyu, Intends to Join Liberty Korea Party

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] ‘Politics, On 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.

Son Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, is entering the conference room at the National Assembly on January 28 to hold a press conference. At this event, Son rejected the demand for the resignation of former leader Ahn Cheol-soo. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Politics has no eternal enemies or eternal allies. Is it a human trait to be weak before power, or is it a mechanism unique to politics? Even in the ruthless world of politics, there are reversals. This happened during the October 28, 2009 by-elections.

A political leader known as an icon of ‘politics of loyalty.’ A figure who provided the opportunity for a parliamentary badge, which many politicians dream of, to a ‘political junior’ and devoted efforts to his election?his name is Sohn Hak-kyu.

The reason the October 28, 2009 by-elections attracted attention was because the episode surrounding candidate nomination was extraordinary. 2009 was during the Lee Myung-bak administration. After the Democratic Party’s crushing defeat in the 2008 general election, they struggled to create a turning point. The October 28 by-elections were an important election.

Poll results were unfavorable to the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party leadership and lawmakers hoped to draft a so-called ‘big-name politician.’ There was a request for former Democratic Party leader and former Gyeonggi Province governor Sohn Hak-kyu to run in the Suwon Jangan by-election and create a wave.

Suwon Jangan was the battleground of the October 28 by-elections. Both the ruling Grand National Party and the opposition Democratic Party considered Suwon Jangan a region they could not concede. Losing Suwon Jangan would be the benchmark determining the outcome of the by-elections held in five districts.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Grand National Party fielded a formidable candidate. Park Chan-sook, a former KBS announcer and a member of the 17th National Assembly until May 2008, was a figure well known to the public with considerable name recognition.

The Democratic Party’s direct encouragement for former leader Sohn Hak-kyu to run was because it was not an easy election. Sohn Hak-kyu declined the candidacy request. Although there were several reasons, the key keyword underlying that decision was ‘loyalty.’

Sohn Hak-kyu’s feelings at the time can be confirmed in an interview with CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ on October 6, 2009. Sohn supported Chairman Lee Chan-yeol, who was almost unknown on the central political stage.

Sohn Hak-kyu said, “In the end, I thought I couldn’t run because, first, politics must have principles,” and “If Sohn Hak-kyu wins, it’s a personal victory for Sohn Hak-kyu, but if Lee Chan-yeol wins, it’s a victory for the Democratic Party.”

Sohn Hak-kyu explained his political choice as follows.

Son Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

“Chairman Lee Chan-yeol, I previously nominated him and appointed him as district party chairman. Especially, when I left the Grand National Party to set my own path, Lee Chan-yeol was someone who said Sohn Hak-kyu’s way was right and came out with me. Shouldn’t we nurture such a person, with such loyalty and conviction?”

How did Democratic Party candidate Lee Chan-yeol, who lagged behind in name recognition compared to Grand National Party candidate Park Chan-sook, perform? When the October 28 by-election results were announced, the political world was astonished.

Lee Chan-yeol won with 49.2% of the vote, defeating Park Chan-sook, who received 42.7%, delivering a victory to the Democratic Party. Among the five by-election districts, Suwon Jangan was the only one to give the Democratic Party nearly 50% of the vote.

What was the reason behind Lee Chan-yeol’s unexpected victory? It could be the result of diligent groundwork as a local politician. It might also be due to public sentiment rallying to check the government at the time.

What must not be forgotten is that the ‘Lee Chan-yeol concession episode’ by politician Sohn Hak-kyu at the time was moving. If Lee Chan-yeol had lost the election, Sohn Hak-kyu could have faced political responsibility for a poor judgment. Sohn Hak-kyu devoted his efforts to the election of his junior politician and led the victory.

Politician Lee Chan-yeol was called ‘a close aide of Sohn Hak-kyu’ for a while. And indeed, he was. But politics is a living thing. Eleven years have passed since 2009, many things have happened, and much has changed. Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, became isolated.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Many politicians demanded his resignation. Sohn Hak-kyu refused to step down. Members of the Bareunmirae Party continued to defect. What shocked the political world inside and outside was the political choice of Sohn Hak-kyu’s close aide Lee Chan-yeol.

On the 4th, Lee Chan-yeol left Sohn Hak-kyu. He declared his departure from the Bareunmirae Party. His statement of leaving contained anguish.

“I feel indescribable emotions for not being able to stay with Leader Sohn Hak-kyu until the end. Without Leader Sohn, I would not be who I am today. My heart, which regards loyalty to Leader Sohn as a principle of my life, will never change.”

But why did Lee Chan-yeol choose to leave? What will be his next choice? What will be the outcome of the diverging fates of politicians Sohn Hak-kyu and Lee Chan-yeol? Will they meet again, or will they embark on separate journeys toward their own dreams?

Regarding his choice, Lee Chan-yeol said, “I will always move forward with an unchanging original intention, looking only at the residents of Jangan. I sincerely hope that all of this will be understood as my political decision.”

Lee Chan-yeol, who left Sohn Hak-kyu’s side, headed to the Liberty Korea Party. On the 6th, at a meeting with Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, Lee said, “Suwon Gap is said to be a difficult area, but I felt that this place should not be handed over to the Moon Jae-in administration, so I decided to join the Korea Party.”