Democratic Party on Ahn Cheol-soo's Disaster Relief Fund Remarks: "No Nationwide Disaster? Remarks Ignoring the People"

People's Party presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo is moving after paying respects at Manghyang Hill in Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungnam on the afternoon of the 7th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] The Democratic Party of Korea has directly criticized Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, for his remark that "not all citizens have experienced a disaster" regarding the policy of nationwide disaster relief funds.

On the 8th, Shin Hyun-young, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party’s election campaign committee, stated in a briefing, "It is surprising that he can overlook in a single sentence the pain and difficulties our people have endured over the past two years." This is the first time the Democratic Party has issued a critical comment targeting only candidate Ahn.

Shin explained, "Not only confirmed patients and their families but also the majority of citizens have experienced inconveniences such as undergoing multiple COVID-19 tests to cooperate with quarantine measures," adding, "Children in daycare centers, elementary and middle school students, and many examinees taking entrance exams have suffered daily anxiety and pain amid infringements on their right to learn and various inconveniences."

She continued, "For medical staff and public officials who are devoted on the front lines of quarantine, the current situation is literally a disaster," emphasizing, "Nevertheless, our citizens share much of this pain for the community and are overcoming this disaster together." She also added, "It may be invisible to candidate Ahn, but it is the effort of the entire nation."

Shin stated, "A perspective and understanding of the people and society are lacking, and remarks like 'citizens who receive a salary are fine' pour cold water on all these efforts and sacrifices," urging, "I hope he is not ignoring the suffering of the people just to highlight his own presence."