Park Hyung-jun tells the president visiting Busan, "Don't tie your shoelaces in the cucumber field"

"President's Regional Visit Ahead of Election Easily Misunderstood"

Park Hyung-jun, preliminary candidate for Busan mayor from the People Power Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Park Hyung-jun, the People Power Party's preliminary candidate for mayor of Busan, criticized President Moon Jae-in, who visited Busan, by quoting the proverb "Don't tie your shoelaces in a cucumber field."

At the joint vision debate for the People Power Party's Busan mayoral candidates held on the 25th at KNN, Park said, "I heard the news of President Moon's visit to Busan before today's debate," and added, "While we cannot fault the president for coming down to the region to address local issues, there is a saying, 'Don't tie your shoelaces in a cucumber field.'

He continued, "The president's visit right before the election is easily misunderstood," and criticized, "What the president did was merely confirm the Democratic Party's pledges."

On the same day, President Moon visited Bujeon Station in Busan, the candidate site for the Gadeokdo New Airport, and Busan New Port as part of the Korean New Deal project's core regional balanced New Deal field visits. However, the opposition party has raised criticism that this move might be supporting the ruling party's push for the 'Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act' just over 40 days before the Busan mayoral by-election.

Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, pointed out at the emergency committee meeting that day, "This is the president's excessive election interference."

Park said, "It is obvious that the people of this administration are determined to win the Busan and Seoul by-elections at all costs," and added, "Recently, I think the administration has shown its will to win the election by all means, including surveillance issues."

Finally, he appealed, "This election will decide the future of the Republic of Korea," and "Therefore, we must rally support behind a candidate who can be wished a definite victory."