[The Editors' Verdict] The Tears of a Leader

President Joe Biden, who will lead the new America, seems to be a man of many tears. The first time his tears were seen was on the 19th (local time) when, as president-elect, he gave a farewell speech in Newcastle, Delaware, where he has lived for over 60 years, in front of neighbors and supporters. His tearful appearance, which made headlines worldwide, goes beyond a simple 'farewell to neighbors.' It reflects complex emotions related to the accumulated national issues caused by the various misgovernances during Donald Trump's four-year tenure, the task of uniting a deeply divided public opinion, and the suffering Americans are enduring due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). President Biden has often shown tears before. During his president-elect period, he shed tears after hearing the story of a COVID-19 patient from a nurse in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Minnesota. In 2017, he comforted the daughter of Republican Senator John McCain, with whom he had built a long-standing bipartisan friendship, while McCain was battling cancer, and he wiped away tears again during McCain's memorial speech the following year. Upon taking office, President Biden immediately reversed the harsh immigration policies of the Trump administration, showing a gesture of wiping away the tears of undocumented immigrants.

Former President Trump was also reported to have 'shed tears' during his election campaign, but it did not become a major topic. This is because Trump's leadership style (excessive charismatic leadership) and his rough language and behavior made him appear as someone who would not shed a single tear even if pricked. Even if he did cry, it was often interpreted as tears arising from his own emotions (whether sadness, grievance, or anger) rather than natural tears born from empathy and communication. When a leader, especially the president of the world's superpower, the United States, sheds tears in public, interpretations can vary between supporters and opponents. However, within the U.S., there is a growing public opinion that "honest emotions are more necessary for leaders of this era." The stereotype that "the higher the status, and the more masculine, the less one should show tears" has long disappeared.

One of President Moon Jae-in's strengths and advantages is his ability to empathize. Not only during his time as a politician but also as president, he often showed tears when listening to the grievances of those sacrificed by state power, their bereaved families, and the disadvantaged in both official and unofficial settings. Each time, the president and government promised to take the lead in wiping away the tears of the underprivileged, which led to outcomes such as the 5·18 distortion punishment law, the Min-sik law, and rulings on comfort women. Even though President Moon's approval ratings are not as high as before, there is no talk of a lame-duck period yet. Among his supporters, there is even talk that he will be the first president to complete his term without a lame-duck period. The ruling party's overwhelming number of seats also supports this.

So, whose tears should be wiped away during the remaining term? It is the cries of self-employed and small business owners growing louder in the field of life as the COVID-19 pandemic surpasses one year. Among the Blue House, the ruling party, and presidential candidates, discussions include "the government should inject more fiscal resources," "support those who suffered losses from those who benefited," and "the government should compensate for losses." For non-regular workers and laborers on the brink of death, there are labor-related laws such as the regularization of non-regular workers, the Serious Accident Punishment Act, and allowing unemployed and dismissed workers to join labor unions. However, on the other hand, there are also voices saying, "We are also underprivileged. Please see our tears too." Leadership that mediates understanding and healing is more urgently needed than ever. Lee Kyung-ho, Head of Social Affairs Department