[The Editors' Verdict]Politicians Also Have Their Leeds Period

September 6, 2011, is a day etched in political history. At that time, the focus of the political landscape was the Seoul mayoral by-election. It was a period when a university professor was overwhelmingly leading the polls with a 40% approval rating, surpassing politicians. The protagonist was Ahn Cheol-soo, dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University. Faced with the power of becoming the next Seoul mayor, his choice was unexpected. He conceded the opportunity to become Seoul mayor to lawyer Park Won-soon, who had only a 3% approval rating. Ahn Cheol-soo’s choice, which brought a fresh shock, shook public sentiment. He quickly rose to become the top contender for the next presidential election. It was the brightest moment in the political life of Ahn Cheol-soo.

On June 2, 2010, during the Lee Myung-bak administration, the 5th nationwide local elections stirred the political circles in Yeouido. The result of the Gyeongnam governor election caused a stir. A politician who was a former village chief, supported by the progressive reform camp, won the governor’s seat in Gyeongnam, a region dominated by conservatives. The protagonist was politician Kim Du-kwan. He won in Changwon, Gimhae, Geoje, Yangsan, Jinju, and Sacheon. He also performed well in Masan, Jinhae, and Miryang, securing nearly 50% of the vote. The election of Kim Du-kwan, known as the “Little Roh Moo-hyun,” as governor of Gyeongnam caused a seismic shift in the next presidential election landscape.

Politicians who have experienced the peak moment when adrenaline explodes carry that memory with them. How could they forget the roaring cheers of supporters burning like a furnace, the blazing eyes? Every presidential candidate has such memories. Those memories are the endorphins of a political career. With that strength, they overcome the difficulties of their political life, and sometimes become intoxicated by it, losing their political bearings.

The so-called “Leeds period” refers to a person’s golden age or past prime. It is a portmanteau derived from the prime years of the English Premier League club Leeds United FC, widely used as a metaphor for a period in one’s life. Generally, the Leeds period remains a memory of the past, but in politics, it can be realized again in the future.

The case of politician Kim Min-seok is an example. He ran in the 16th general election in 2000 for the Yeongdeungpo-eul district in Seoul and was re-elected with over 60% of the vote. He was regarded as a future leader, even considered a potential figure to become the head of the Blue House beyond the Seoul mayor. However, it took a full 20 years for Kim Min-seok to be elected again in a public office election. Until he became a member of the National Assembly again in the 21st general election in 2020, he experienced the bitter taste of political life. Since being elected as the senior supreme council member of the Democratic Party in August last year, he has been experiencing his second Leeds period.

The reason why prominent politicians dreaming of becoming the next president should reflect on Kim Min-seok’s case is that it contains lessons to guide the presidential race. The process of someone who has experienced the pain of being rejected by supporters being chosen by them again. The starting point of change is self-objectification. It is important to coldly diagnose the reality of one’s value as a political product and why one is currently receiving such evaluations.

If memories remain stuck in past glory, it is difficult to revive the Leeds period. It means reflecting on what the public was enthusiastic about in oneself and whether one is currently practicing such behavior. Once the answer is found, it should be put into action. The public feels frustrated with current politics. They are waiting for a refreshing remedy to quench their thirst. For a presidential candidate seeking that path, the Leeds period will not be a memory of the past but a glory realized in the present.