{"id":2201576,"date":"2023-07-03T19:47:28","date_gmt":"2023-07-03T10:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201576"},"modified":"2023-07-04T18:12:11","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T09:12:11","slug":"green-tie-politics-a-former-prime-ministers-return-ripples-through-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/07\/green-tie-politics-a-former-prime-ministers-return-ripples-through-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Green tie politics: A former prime minister\u2019s return ripples through South Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"
The recent <\/span>return<\/span><\/a> of former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon to South Korea, following a yearlong academic sabbatical in the U.S., has attracted significant attention in political circles.<\/span><\/p>\n As a major figure in the previous Moon administration, and the runner up for the progressive nomination ahead of the most recent presidential election, Lee could influence intra-party dynamics within the Democratic Party with his return and potentially reignite factional tensions. Additionally, his return could impact the People Power Party\u2019s prospects in the forthcoming April parliamentary elections.<\/span><\/p>\n When Lee Nak-yeon left South Korea a year ago, the Yoon administration had recently been inaugurated, and he found little political space within the main opposition Democratic Party as its new standard bearer Lee Jae-myung consolidated power after losing the presidential election to Yoon Suk-yeol.<\/span><\/p>\n When he returned, the former prime minister was greeted by an estimated <\/span>one thousand supporters<\/span><\/a> at Incheon International Airport, creating an impromptu rally that garnered substantial media attention. It seems the intricacies of Korean politics and symbolism weren\u2019t lost on observers, with commentators <\/span>dissecting<\/span><\/a> even the color of his tie, a distinct shade of dark green.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee\u2019s return, complete with large-scale public support, is reminiscent of a time-honored Korean <\/span>political tradition<\/span><\/a> where supporters convene en masse at the airport to welcome a politician returning from an extended absence. This parallel led some to see a calculated performance in his homecoming.<\/span><\/p>\n The dark green tie he wore has been viewed as more than a sartorial choice, as it was the <\/span>official color<\/span><\/a> of the party led by former President Kim Dae-jung, South Korea\u2019s first progressive president elected in 1997. Notably, Kim Dae-jung was often seen in a green necktie, making it a distinctive part of his political persona.<\/span><\/p>\n This apparent nod to the former president is particularly salient given that both Lee and Kim hail from the same region \u2014 South Jeolla Province. It suggests that Lee may be positioning himself within a certain political lineage and invoking a potent legacy as he steps back into the public eye.<\/span><\/p>\n