How Should We View Former Presidents' Election Support?

Ruling and Opposition Parties Summon Former Presidents to Rally Supporters
Moon Criticizes Government Two Days in a Row: "Never Seen a Government This Incompetent"
Park to Support Candidate Yoo Young-ha Ahead of General Election

The general election political landscape is 'summoning' former presidents. They are actively getting involved beyond merely meeting candidates or offering words of encouragement. In particular, former President Moon Jae-in is being evaluated as effectively conducting election campaigns by directly meeting local constituency candidates.

Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited the residence of former President Park Geun-hye located in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, on the 26th of last month and stayed for about 30 minutes. Candidates Yoon Jae-ok (Daegu Dalseo-gu Eul), Yoo Young-ha (Daegu Dalseo-gu Gap), and Kim Hyung-dong (Gyeongbuk Andong-si Yecheon-gun) accompanied him. After visiting the residence, Chairman Han told reporters, "(Former President Park) said many warm words, and I also expressed my deep gratitude."

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is taking a commemorative photo with former President Park Geun-hye at Park's residence in Daegu on the 26th. (Left) Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a speech at the Nambu Market in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, on the afternoon of the 25th. (Right) [Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized the theory of regime judgment by quoting former President Kim Dae-jung during his support rallies for Democratic candidates. On the 25th of last month in Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam, Lee said, "Former President Kim said, 'A conscience that does not act is on the side of evil,'" urging people to vote and sending a message to judge the current administration. On the same day, he mentioned this statement six times in places including Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, and Cheongju-si, Chungbuk.

Currently, there are three living former presidents: Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, and Moon Jae-in. The most prominent activity is former President Moon Jae-in’s visits to local constituency candidates. On the 1st, Moon visited Lee Jae-young, candidate for Yangsan-si Gap, Gyeongnam, and on the 2nd, he visited candidates Kim Tae-seon (Ulsan Dong-gu) and Oh Sang-taek (Ulsan Jung-gu) together. Especially, for two consecutive days, he strongly criticized, saying, "In my seventy years of life, I have never seen a government perform this poorly," lending weight to the 'regime judgment theory.' Meanwhile, former President Park Geun-hye is also reportedly planning to campaign for her closest aide, Yoo Young-ha (Daegu Dalseo-gu Gap), before early voting begins.

Former President Moon Jae-in visited Gunggeorang-gil in Samho-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, on the afternoon of the 2nd and greeted citizens together with Democratic Party candidate Jeon Eun-su. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding former President Moon’s support rallies, commentator Kim Sang-il said, "I think it is acceptable to support candidates with whom he has personal friendships and connections," but added, "However, it is highly inappropriate for (former President Moon’s) remarks to be treated as one of the major political issues." He further stated, "A former president should be a mature figure for both the nation and its people, but if he acts like a member of a particular faction, can he become a national elder?" Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University’s Department of Political Science and Diplomacy remarked, "This kind of case has been very rare," and added, "It seems like he is focusing on supporting personnel from the Moon administration, which could become another axis of conflict between pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) and pro-Lee (pro-Lee Jae-myung) factions."

There are not only critical views. Choi Byung-chun, director of the New Growth Research Institute, mentioned the 'Lee-Jo-Moon (Lee Jae-myung, Cho Kuk, Moon Jae-in) alliance,' predicting that former President Moon’s actions will help the Democratic Party candidates make gains in the Busan-Gyeongnam region. He said, "Just as Obama helped Biden’s campaign in the U.S., party politics should be seen as a unified front," and added, "Former President Moon’s candidate support should be regarded as appropriate." He also argued, "One of the important reasons the Democratic Party is performing well in the Busan-Gyeongnam region is the consolidation of voters who are anti-Yoon (anti-Yoon Seok-youl) and anti-Lee (anti-Lee Jae-myung), and the Lee-Jo-Moon alliance produces additional effects."