"'Empty Speech' Roh Moo-hyun, Historic Reversal Two Years Later [Politics, That Day...]"

2000 16th General Election, Busan Buk·Gangseo-eul Campaign Without Audience
Left Jongno to Challenge Busan General Election but Lost... Spark of Presidential Victory

[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, and figures.

"What should I say, I forgot what to say..." At the campaign site in Myeongji Market, Busan, held ahead of the 16th general election in April 2000.

Roh Moo-hyun, the Saechunmin Party candidate running for the Busan Buk-gu and Gangseo-gu-eul district, expressed his awkward feelings to party officials before the campaign started.

Politician Roh Moo-hyun was known as one of the top public speakers. He was evaluated as having public speaking skills that rivaled any politician, so why did he say he forgot what to say?

Although politician Roh Moo-hyun ran for the National Assembly representing Busan, the situation at the time was not easy. At the Myeongji Market campaign site, there were almost no audience members who came to listen to his speech.

Although a stage was set up in a wide open space, no audience was visible, which is why he said he didn’t know where to start his speech.

To understand the situation at the time, we need to go back to the July 21, 1998, by-election for the National Assembly.

The winner of that election, which chose a new National Assembly member for Jongno, Seoul?known as the ‘political hotspot’?was politician Roh Moo-hyun. He ran as the candidate of the New Politics National Congress and defeated the candidate from the Hannara Party.

The rise of a prominent presidential candidate holding the title of Jongno National Assembly member stirred the political circles in Yeouido. After successfully being re-elected as the Jongno National Assembly member in the 2000 general election, it was expected that he would run in the 2002 presidential election. However, Jongno National Assembly member Roh Moo-hyun chose a different path.

He left the embrace of Jongno and headed to Busan. He challenged for the National Assembly seat in Busan Buk-gu and Gangseo-gu-eul. From the Hannara Party’s perspective, this was an election they could never afford to lose.

The Busan Buk-gu and Gangseo-gu-eul election was conducted in a dirty manner. To defeat candidate Roh Moo-hyun, regional sentiments were provoked, and color-based attacks continued. Candidate Roh Moo-hyun inevitably struggled.

The empty speech at the open space in Myeongji Market symbolizes candidate Roh Moo-hyun’s situation.

The results of the 16th general election for Busan Buk-gu and Gangseo-gu-eul were as expected. Hannara Party candidate Heo Tae-yeol won comfortably with 40,464 votes (53.22%). Saechunmin Party candidate Roh Moo-hyun received only 27,136 votes (35.69%).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Candidate Roh Moo-hyun’s defeat in the general election was the beginning of a turnaround. Public opinion shifted in response to what had seemed like a reckless challenge. Although he was not elected as a National Assembly member in his district, nationwide waves of support for him continued.

This was the butterfly effect sparked by support for ‘Fool Roh Moo-hyun.’ Two years after the 16th general election, he was elected President of the Republic of Korea.

Politician Roh Moo-hyun’s reversal drama is a dream and hope for ruling and opposition politicians aspiring to be president. The belief is grounded in the idea that even if current approval ratings are low, one can grow into a politician supported by the people someday.

It is intriguing to wonder who will be the protagonist of the 2027 presidential election beyond the 2022 presidential election. Among those who were not candidates of major parties in the 2022 presidential race, the protagonist of the next presidential election (2027) may emerge.

The important thing is ‘political momentum.’

It means that it is crucial to understand what the era demands and to demonstrate the capability to realize the era’s tasks.