Returning to Medical Volunteer Work An
Yoon, Hong, and Won Visit Joint Memorial Altar
Policies on High-Risk Group Vaccination and Rescue Programs Included
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Ahead of the 'COVID-19 Chuseok,' opposition presidential candidates focused on comforting the people suffering from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, including medical personnel, small business owners, and self-employed individuals. Each candidate not only visited the field in person but also demanded related measures from the government or pledged them as part of their presidential campaign promises.
On the 19th, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, volunteered at the screening clinic of Jung-gu Public Health Center in Seoul, continuing from the previous day. Medical volunteering is Ahn’s specialty as a former doctor, and he gained attention for volunteering during the Lunar New Year holiday ahead of the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election. His volunteering during the Chuseok holiday is also interpreted as a move to win public support ahead of his presidential run.
Before volunteering that day, Ahn said, "I came to volunteer again today following yesterday. I want to ensure that even one medical staff member can rest during the holiday." He added, "I will conduct proper tests on each person and volunteer with the hope that all of them test negative."
He urged the government to focus on completing vaccinations for high-risk groups rather than emphasizing the nationwide first-dose vaccination rate. He also stressed changing the quarantine management method from 'government-led quarantine,' where officials track confirmed patients’ movements, to 'citizen-participatory quarantine,' where citizens track their own movements using smartphone apps.
Presidential candidates from the People Power Party devoted themselves to 'soothing the self-employed.' Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl visited the joint memorial altar for self-employed people set up in front of the National Assembly the night before to pay respects. In the guestbook, he wrote, "I am sorry and apologize. I will achieve regime change to ensure the implementation of policies to rescue the self-employed."
After paying respects, he met with representatives from the Federation of Small Businesses and the National Self-Employed Countermeasures Committee to emphasize related policies. Yoon said, "I said I wouldn’t do political shows, but I couldn’t avoid visiting the market," adding, "I currently have no official power, but I will continue to pressure the government to provide support and, once elected after the election, immediately implement an emergency rescue program for the self-employed."
On the same day, Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, also visited the joint memorial altar to pay respects and emphasized policies to support the self-employed and small business owners. After writing in the guestbook, "I will create a country where ordinary people live well," he stated, "We will prepare a recovery plan for the self-employed and small business owners by mobilizing the National Pension Service to provide long-term interest-free loans to those in dire straits, with the government budget covering the interest."
Earlier, former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong visited the joint memorial altar for three days from the 16th to the 18th. On the 16th, he confronted police who were blocking the installation of the altar alongside the National Self-Employed Emergency Countermeasures Committee and held a solo protest for the self-employed. On the 18th, Won wrote on Facebook, "The self-employed have endured until now, but the uncertainty about when COVID-19 will end brings great fear," adding, "This may be the hardest and saddest Chuseok of their lives." He proposed related policies such as transitioning to 'With Corona' and establishing a 100 trillion won recovery fund.
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