[Politics, That Day...] "Should I Abandon My Wife?"... 'Roh Moo-hyun's Famous Speech' That Changed the Presidential Race

April 2002 Democratic Party Incheon Primary Speech, Wife Defends 'Jangin Leftist' Allegation... "I Will Withdraw from Presidential Candidacy" Political Last Stand

[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 noteworthy scenes, events, or figures.

“Are you telling me to separate from my wife?” Former lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum brought up family matters in relation to the Democratic Party representative election. As criticism surrounding his wife’s eldest brother intensified, he stepped forward to defend. Kim Boo-kyum’s wife, Lee Yu-mi, revealed that her eldest brother is Professor Lee Young-hoon, author of ‘Anti-Japan Tribalism.’

This fact, known to everyone in political circles but unknown to outsiders, became the focal point of controversy during the ruling party’s representative election. Lee Yu-mi mentioned that her eldest brother and other family members were involved in student movements in the past, expressing her regret over the current situation.

Lee Yu-mi’s direct disclosure that her eldest brother is Professor Lee Young-hoon was an action that risked political backlash. Because of this revelation, even those who were unaware came to know. Former lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum actively defended his wife, arguing, “If this is used to cause trouble, it is a form of guilt by association and truly unjust.”

Rather than hiding the negative issue that surfaced during the party representative election, they chose to confront it head-on. If it became known that a candidate’s family member was Professor Lee Young-hoon, voters within the ruling party might have their support shaken. However, the proactive response by Kim Boo-kyum and his wife might turn into a reversal of fortune.

Kim Boo-kyum, former member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a press conference to announce his candidacy for party leader at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 9th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

In Korean political history, there have been cases where family-related stories, especially those that could have been ‘political liabilities,’ turned into decisive moments that changed the election landscape. One such example is the speech by then-Democratic Party presidential candidate Roh Moo-hyun on April 6, 2002, during the Incheon primary, considered one of the greatest speeches in Korean political history.

The Democratic Party presidential primary was a fierce competition among candidates such as Roh Moo-hyun, Lee In-je, and Chung Dong-young. Lee In-je, who had led the momentum but then faltered, made a decisive move at the Incheon primary. Having secured solid support from Chungcheong provinces like Chungnam, if Lee In-je performed well in Incheon, where many Chungcheong residents lived, he could potentially sway the metropolitan area voters.

At the Incheon primary, Lee In-je brought up the leftist activities of Roh Moo-hyun’s father-in-law (the father of Kwon Yang-sook). This was seen as a political calculation to stir up color politics and shake the moderate conservative votes within the Democratic Party.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

If Lee In-je’s gambit had succeeded, the dynamics of the Democratic Party primary might have changed. Roh Moo-hyun had two options: avoid the storm or confront it head-on. He could have tried to cover up or explain away the issue, but that would not fundamentally resolve the political risk.

Roh Moo-hyun chose to confront it directly. At the Incheon primary site, in addition to addressing his father-in-law’s leftist activities, he questioned his own qualifications as a presidential candidate.

Roh Moo-hyun’s speech at the time included the following:

“My father-in-law was involved in leftist activities before he passed away. However, he became blind in the year of liberation and could not see, so I do not know how much he was involved or what he did. He passed away long before I got married, and I knew this fact when I married my wife. We have raised our children well and have lived loving each other until now. What is wrong with that? Should I abandon such a wife? Does having such a wife mean I am unqualified to be president, and loving her means I am unqualified?”

Roh Moo-hyun is considered one of the best public speakers among politicians in history. When he personally mentioned his wife’s family background and defended her, the voters present at the Incheon primary were moved.

Roh Moo-hyun said, “I ask you to judge me here. If you decide that a person with such a wife is unqualified to be president, I will quit the presidential race. But if you tell me to continue, I will do my best.” Cheers erupted at the Incheon primary site. Some women listened to Roh’s speech with tears in their eyes.

Lee In-je, who had used the ‘father-in-law’s leftist activities’ as an attack point, drank a glass of water while watching the audience’s reaction, and Chung Dong-young applauded along with the crowd’s response.

The reason Roh Moo-hyun’s Incheon speech is still regarded as a classic scene is that it demonstrated how a politician’s single word or expression can touch the hearts of voters.

It is also evaluated that Roh Moo-hyun’s speech that day translated into an effect of hundreds of thousands of votes. Especially married women applauded the political stance of being willing to give up presidential qualifications to protect their wives.

The Democratic Party presidential primary may have effectively ended with that one speech. Lee In-je lost to Roh Moo-hyun in the region (Incheon) he had to win and soon after withdrew from the presidential primary himself.