[Exclusive] There Was 'Churchill' Behind President Yoon's Decision to Reconcile with Subway Official After Conflict with Lee Jun-seok

Presidential Election TMI_Yoon Seok-yeol, People Power Party Candidate
No Plans for Yeouido Station Greeting
Decision Made Inspired by Churchill Movie Subway Scene

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is greeting citizens commuting to work in front of Exit 5 of Yeouido Station, Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 6th. 2022.1.6 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] On the 5th, Yoon Seok-yeol's presidential campaign announced the schedule for the next day (the 6th). The "greeting commuters at Gangbuk subway station," which Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, had proposed as a "condition for reconciliation," did not take place. Upon realizing this, Lee believed his proposal had been rejected, intensifying the conflict. From that night (the 5th), when the sense of crisis peaked due to a sharp drop in approval ratings, to the morning of the 6th when Yoon appeared in front of Yeouido Station, and the afternoon of the 6th when the parliamentary meeting mentioned Lee’s impeachment and a sudden reconciliation occurred, a decisive political figure emerged ? none other than British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Back to the night of the 5th. As Yoon was returning home, a senior member of the People Power Party called him. During the call, Yoon confessed that he was deeply troubled about whether it was appropriate not to schedule the subway greeting. The senior member urged, "Please think about it actively; it is a path to harmony," but Yoon hesitated to respond. Earlier, Lee had described his demands, including the subway greeting, as "practice problems," fueling internal opposition within the party. Fulfilling Lee’s requests could have sparked further conflict.

In the early hours of the 6th, the senior member called Yoon again. Yoon said, "I couldn’t sleep all night and was deeply worried," and unexpectedly brought up Churchill’s story. When the political sphere was divided over whether to fight or compromise with Germany in 1940, Prime Minister Churchill headed to the subway. Confirming the London citizens’ resolve that "we must not surrender; we must fight," he went to the parliament and delivered a speech declaring, "If we surrender cowardly, we will perish," thereby gaining consent to enter the war (this episode was featured in the movie Darkest Hour). After elaborating on Churchill’s leadership, Yoon said, "Isn’t the subway a politically symbolic place? I will go. I will meet citizens humbly and listen to public sentiment."

Without any preparation or notifying the media, Yoon began bowing at a 90-degree angle in front of the Yeouido Station exit. Photos of "Yoon Seok-yeol appearing at Yeouido Station" spread on social media, attracting reporters. After completing all scheduled events, Yoon moved to the National Assembly. At that time, a parliamentary meeting demanding Lee’s resignation was underway. Arriving during Lee’s speech, Yoon said, "Everything is my fault as the candidate. Let’s let go and forget everything." The prolonged estrangement of the party leader and the imminent internal party conflict were dramatically resolved.

On the following day, the 7th, Yoon boarded the subway again. This time, it was the Gimpo Gold Line and the Line 9 express train, known as "hell trains." The senior member who shared the time of reflection with Yoon said, "I think it was a good opportunity to show sincerity in a symbolic place like the subway. Yoon said he would embrace everything." He added, "Ultimately, that decision led to reconciliation. Yoon gained the political insight after an all-night reflection that he must humble himself to approach a solution."