Lee Cheol-woo Meets Yoon: "Deeply Heartbroken, Didn't Even Have a Drink... Hurt by Betrayal Around Me"

Lee posts on Facebook on the 10th
"Yoon did not drink as usual"
"Distressed over Constitutional Court ruling being overturned at the last minute"
"Emphasized the importance of loyalty when appointing people"

Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, who officially announced his candidacy for the 21st presidential election, visited former President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 9th to share recent updates. Lee said, "(Former President Yoon) seems deeply hurt by the betrayal of those around him," adding, "He appeared very distressed, thinking that the Constitutional Court's ruling was overturned at the last minute."

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Yonhap News Agency

On the 10th, Lee posted on his Facebook, "I visited President Yoon Seok-yeol at the presidential residence last night and told him that I declared my candidacy because I cannot watch the country collapse." He added, "(Former President Yoon) said that our party must win this election to protect liberal democracy and that he would do his best," and "He also wished me well, hoping I would work hard and get elected."

Lee said, "(Former President Yoon) advised me to remember that loyalty is the most important factor when appointing people if I become president," and "I guess he is deeply hurt by the betrayal of those around him." He continued, "He appeared very distressed, thinking that the Constitutional Court's ruling was overturned at the last minute," and expressed concern, saying, "Due to health reasons, he did not even have a drink as usual, which worries me."

Lee, who had led opposition to impeachment by calling former President Yoon 'Your Excellency,' officially declared his presidential candidacy the day before at the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee in Gumi, Gyeongbuk. He stated, "I cannot watch the collapsing Republic of Korea as it is, so I am entering the presidential primary with the new spirit of Park Chung-hee." He added, "We must inherit the spirit of President Rhee Syngman, who established this country's liberal democratic system, and President Park Chung-hee, who built today's Korea within that system," and argued, "If we modernize what former President Park did?such as Saemaul Undong, expressways, steel, science and technology, nuclear power, and reforestation?it will become a way to revive Korea."

Meanwhile, former President Yoon and his wife Kim Keon-hee are expected to leave the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and move to their private residence in Seocho-dong on the 11th. According to the presidential office and political circles on the 10th, the former president and his wife are scheduled to vacate the Hannam-dong residence as early as the afternoon of the 11th. Some of their belongings have already been moved to the private residence, and the 11 pets that lived with them at the residence will also be relocated. Security for the former president will be handled by the Presidential Security Service. The service recently completed forming a dedicated security team for former President Yoon, which will be led by a level 3 security chief and operate with a total of 50 members.