The reason why Rep. Lee Jun-seok attended President Lee Jae-myung's inauguration ceremony - South Korean media

Rep. Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party, who ran in the June 3 presidential election, was the only defeated candidate to attend President Lee Jae-myung's inauguration ceremony, drawing attention.
On the 4th, President Lee began his term without holding a transition committee meeting. As a result, President Lee's inauguration ceremony was a simple one with only the oath of office and the inaugural speech, without any special events.
Around 300 people, including government officials, State Councillors and National Assembly members, took part in the oath of office held that day. Among them, it was Rep. Lee Jun-seok who drew the most attention.
When President Lee entered the inauguration hall around 11 a.m., most of the attendees stood up and applauded, but Rep. Lee Jun-seok and People Power Party leader Kim Yong-tae stood up and applauded.
The chairman, Reform Party acting representative Chung Haram and others stood up but did not applaud.
"I heard that a seat had been prepared for me, so I participated of my own volition," he said, adding, "I participated in my capacity as a member of parliament, not as a presidential candidate."
Furthermore, Rep. Lee Jun-seok said, "Even if we are in a fierce election battle with President Lee, we must maintain the same courtesy as opposition lawmakers when a new administration is launched.
I want people to understand that I participated because I wanted to protect the country." Rep. Lee Jun-seok was not able to have a special conversation with President Lee at the inauguration ceremony, but in a phone call he said, "We both struggled during the election."
On the same day, Rep. Lee Jun-seok also wrote on Facebook, "I congratulate President Lee Jae-myung on his inauguration," and added, "The fact that expectations and concerns are mixed as we face a new beginning is a major problem for the Korean people.
"This is because everyone wants the country to move in a better direction," he said. "To overcome the economic crisis and the difficulties facing our people, we need cooperation that goes beyond the boundaries of the ruling and opposition parties and camps.
Now is the time to focus only on the people and join hands," he said. Rep. Lee Jun-seok drew attention in the recent presidential election for aligning himself with People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo, but he has decided to forfeit the election.
He did not choose any candidate and received 8.34% of the vote.