Ahn Cheol-soo: "Kang Won-rae Did Not Come to the Site as a Supporter... Please Stop the Political Attacks"

Kang Won-rae Faces Backlash Over "Worst Quarantine Policy" Comment
"If You Feel Uncomfortable, Please Direct It Toward Me"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party who challenged the Seoul mayoral by-election, visited Itaewon in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 20th and held a meeting with merchants including Kang Won-rae, a representative of Itaewon self-employed business owners. 2021.1.20 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, on the 22nd clarified that Kang Won-rae did not appear at the scene as his supporter and asked to stop political attacks.

On that day, Ahn wrote on his Facebook, "When I visited Itaewon, Kang Won-rae came out as a self-employed person to voice his difficulties, not as my supporter at that place," adding, "It is understandable to think about how difficult and desperate the situation must have been for self-employed people pushed to the brink of survival to say such things." He continued, "Supporters of the Moon administration should not politically attack this."

Earlier, on the 20th, Ahn held a meeting with merchants in Itaewon, Seoul. It was an occasion to listen to the hardships of self-employed people who have been struggling due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). On that day, Kang Won-rae, a singer from the group Clon, attended the meeting, and Kang made a controversial remark, saying, "K-pop is the best, but the quarantine policy is the worst." Kang operates a pub in Itaewon. When the issue arose, Kang posted an apology on his Instagram on the 21st, saying, "While talking about the hardships of self-employed people, emotions ran high, and I used the expression 'quarantine policy is the worst.'"

Ahn said, "If you have any discomfort, please direct it at me," and added, "Regarding compensation measures for those who could not operate properly due to following the government’s quarantine standards, it has also been mentioned by the ruling party."