David Tizzard is a professor at Seoul Women’s University, holds a PhD in Korean Studies, and hosts the Korea Deconstructed podcast. He has lived and worked in Seoul for more than two decades. Reach him at datizzard@swu.ac.kr.
The revolution of light and weight of words: Welcome President Lee Jae Myung
Courtesy of David Tizzard
By David A. Tizzard
Considering he took office in early June, it seemed a somewhat strange assignment to spend my mid-August evening watching his official inauguration. But that’s where I found myself, sat in a television studio in downtown Seoul, providing live analysis and commentary while the rest of the country enjoyed a late-summer vacation. In a rather astute move, President Lee had decided to use the nation’s most emotional and celebratory public holiday to announce himself as the leader chosen by the people of the country and tasked with the challenge of returning not only the light from Japanese colonization but also power from South Korea’s conservative faction.
The event itself felt like a combination of an Olympics opening ceremony, a christening, and a coronation. A night of performance, song, and music to announce the arrival of the new leader and provide him with legitimacy. There was taekwondo, K-pop, long speeches, and lots of clapping. Everything you expect from an event here in modern Korea.
Changing Lee
I must confess, based on his 2022 election campaign, I was rather skeptical about what President Lee could bring to the country. I felt him out of touch, a re-run of what had been tried before. I wanted something that saw domestic and international issues from a completely different perspective if Korea was going to build on its remarkable transformation over the last few decades. Yoon Suk Yeol obviously had to go, but Lee was not the answer, I remarked.
Since making that assertion, I have been proven somewhat wrong. The perceived left-wing ideologue some feared would sell out the country to the Chinese Communist Party has proved himself to be a very pragmatic politician. His positions and policies have defied traditional Korean political analysis. He has adopted centrist positions, sometimes even those associated with the South Korean right. Perhaps those paying attention to the first Democratic Party debate earlier this year would remember the President saying, “Whether one is conservative or progressive is relative and can change depending on the circumstances.”
I’ve spent the last few weeks enjoying free tuna kimbap and coffee from my local stores thanks to the president’s cash handouts to all citizens. He’s made all the right sounds regarding multiculturalism and foreign workers in the country. And, despite the political power his party enjoys, he’s assumed the role in a humble manner that Korean etiquette and tradition requires.
I’ve also found it interesting that President Lee is going to go to Tokyo before he goes to Washington this year. Political analysts say that we can generally expect Seoul-Tokyo relations to deteriorate under the Democratic Party. While that still might be the case, President Lee’s decision to go east before he goes west defies any previous understanding of the Democratic Party of recent years. At the same time, President Lee has handled his American counterpart exceptionally well. He has provided the necessary flattery and compliments to President Donald Trump to obtain a reasonable tariff deal for the country. Some might find this kind of deference unbefitting, but President Lee knows his assignment well and has played the cards dealt to him successfully. While it seems like he will do the same with Beijing, his position on North Korea will be interesting to see over the next few years. Does he waste time, money and political energy trying to engage Pyongyang only to have them turn around and blow up buildings in Kaesong paid for by our tax-money? President Moon focused heavily on inter-Korean relations only to have the Baekdu leadership publicly refer to him in not very polite terms. It was good to see him in attendance last night though, despite not having the beard that suits him so well. British Ambassador Colin Crooks has also enjoyed a seemingly close relationship with the president thus far, earning a seat next to him at the Liberation Day Banquet for the Seoul diplomatic corps. Another reason it pays to speak Korean while living and working here.
All this is to say that since taking office, much of what President Lee has done has not only been correct, it’s been popular. He’s trying to appease the center of the country, rather than the extreme right or left, and that seems to be working. Korea has a leader again, it can celebrate again, and the public shame of being talked about as a military dictatorship in 2025 is far behind them. His decision to pardon powerful political figures such as Cho Kuk and former lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang was seen by some as beyond the pale considering ordinary citizens do not normally receive such privileges, but unfortunately such behavior has come to be expected on both sides of the aisle.
Ceremony in white
When making his way into last night’s inauguration ceremony, the President was sporting a white tie with small blue stripes. These small sartorial decisions show how he is careful to position himself as a Korean president focused on tradition and unity. This is the country of the people who wore white, after all.
However, despite Gyeongbokgung looming large in the background, that was really the only thing traditional about what unfolded over the next few hours. While there was music, dance, and song, pansori, gugak, and the floating sounds of the gayageum were all missing. Instead, something I’d never thought I’d experience. DJ Aster playing drum and bass at a Korean presidential ceremony. Sadly, I hadn’t brought my Classics or chewing gum so couldn’t have a Mike Skinner-inspired dance. There was also the inclusion in the ceremony of Girls’ Generation “Into The New World.” For many casual observers, this might just be a wonderfully uplifting golden age of K-pop song. However, it has become a gay anthem, played regularly at pride events and other occasions in support of the LGBTQ community. Expressing hope for a new beginning. I can’t imagine the organizers chose this unknowingly and there were likely many who felt seen and recognized by this song.
The event placed a huge emphasis on the people of the country, drawing a path through Korea’s history to the modern day. From An Jung-geun in 1909, Kim Koo, Dosan, and Syngman Rhee in Shanghai in 1919, and Yu Gwang-sun closer to home. The Candlelight Revolution of 2016 linked to the current administration being labeled as the "revolution of light." We were treated to conversations with Kim Hae-in the Uljin Marine Police Station hero who saved countless lives during the Yeongdeok Wildfire as well as with Kim Jun-young and Sagong Hye-ran, parents of quintuplets! The message was clear. The people’s voice will be heard and this is the president the people of Korea have chosen. Let democracy and the public’s will reign.
And so that’s why, despite my praise of the president for his handling of affairs thus far, and his humility since taking office, I offered one note of advice during my television analysis at the end. The event was centered around giving a voice to the people, and yet we didn’t really hear the president speak. Yes, he gave a long speech and said all the things that we would expect to be said. But we never really heard him speak. We never saw him put the script down and speak to the people of the country as a human. As a person. From one mind to another. Perhaps my expectations are too high. Or maybe I just want someone like Roh Moo-hyun or Kim Dae-jung to come and be real with us again, but the carefully curated words from the president stood in stark contrast to everything else. The citizens spoke without a script and even the singers had to sing live. The three members of Izna did a great job of singing the song of the hour “Golden,” but you could tell there was no auto-tune or lip-syncing. It was real. I also stood on that particular stage a few years ago and, strange as it may seem, played a stoner-rock version of “Jindo Arirang” and Shin Joong-hyun’s “Beautiful Woman.” It’s nerve-wracking to take off the safety belt and know your mistakes will be heard. But that’s also what makes us human and warms us to others.
President Lee has been chosen by the people and he’s asked the people to speak. Now, as people, I wonder whether we will get to hear him speak. Upon assuming such power and responsibility, I understand completely how it would be easy to disappear behind curated messages and social media statements designed to please everyone and anger no-one. And there is value in that sort of diplomacy. The president has done it well thus far. But the country also needs a voice. In an age when we are drowning in information and algorithms, we often need a narrative to guide us. With artificial intelligence capable of diagnosing our illnesses, writing our articles, and bringing past martyrs to life, there is value in looking people in the eye and speaking to them. Not about them. But to them.
For all the light shows, symbolism, and history invoked, what Korea still longs for is not a perfectly staged performance but a leader willing to step out from behind the script, risk the silence, and speak as one of us, the people.