Opening Ceremony of Candidate Yudonggyun's Mapo-gu Office 'Bustling'

Over 3,000 Gathered, Venue Packed Without Space to Step, Traffic Congestion Around Hapjeong Station and Hongdae Area

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The opening ceremony of the election office for Yoodonggyun, the Democratic Party candidate for Mayor of Mapo District, was held on the 14th at the Seogyo Building (2nd floor) near Hapjeong Station, with about 3,000 local residents packed shoulder to shoulder.

The entire 2nd-floor election office, additionally rented due to the cramped 7th-floor office, was filled to capacity, creating a heated atmosphere with passionate support from candidate Yoodonggyun and the residents of Mapo District.

It is reported that around noon on Saturday, when the opening ceremony took place, the Seogyo Building and the area around Hongdae Hapjeong Station were so crowded that even traffic congestion occurred.

The event was hosted by broadcaster Kang Seong-beom. Key guests included local members of the National Assembly such as Jeong Cheong-rae and No Woong-rae, former member Son Hye-won, and members Kim Min-seok, Kim Young-ho, Jin Sung-jun, Kim Ui-gyeom, Park Sung-jun, Yoo Jung-joo, Lim Oh-kyung, Hong Young-pyo, Hong Ik-pyo, as well as Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District, and former Mayor Park Hong-seop.

Broadcaster Kang Seong-beom, who hosted the event, mentioned veteran singer Seo Yoo-seok among the guests, entertaining the audience with his unique wit and impersonations, causing bursts of laughter.

The Democratic Party one-team candidates from the Mapo area, including City Council members Kim Ki-deok, Jeong Jin-sul, City Council candidates Han Seung-joo and Nam Hae-jung, District Council members Kim Young-mi, Shin Jong-gap, Choi Eun-ha, Chae Woo-jin, District Council candidates Cha Hye-young, Kwon Young-sook, Han Seon-mi, Go Byung-jun, Nam Hae-seok, and proportional representation candidate Jang Jeong-hee, also participated, pledging victory in the local elections.

Attending member Jeong Cheong-rae said, “There is an African proverb that even a lion can be tied up if enough spider webs are gathered,” and asked the residents of Mapo, “Will each one of you become a spider web that can create a thick rope?” urging support for Yoodonggyun, the candidate for Mayor of Mapo District.

Member Son Hye-won said, “I refrained from coming to Mapo for a while as a courtesy to member Jeong Cheong-rae, but today I came to support grassroots politician Yoodonggyun,” adding, “It takes three tries to change a region,” and urged, “Yoodonggyun, now running for re-election, please make sure to serve three terms.”

Member No Woong-rae appealed, “The Democratic Party must unite especially in difficult times. If not, Mapo could become a peripheral area,” and urged, “We must unite so that Yoodonggyun, Mayor of Mapo District, wins and can take the Gyeongui Line to Europe.”

Member Kim Min-seok said, “As the head of the local election headquarters, I am considering the slogan ‘Balance for the country, people for the region,’” and stated, “Song Young-gil must win in Seoul, Kim Dong-yeon in Gyeonggi Province, and Yoodonggyun in Mapo.”

Finally, the main figure of the opening ceremony, candidate Yoodonggyun for Mayor of Mapo District, shared, “When I was young, my father was a rice shop owner with a golden spoon, but because he shared rice with poor neighbors and engaged in charity work, we became ‘dirt spoons’ and moved to Seongsan-dong, Mapo District in 1974,” and when he spoke about how his mother’s blood, sweat, and tears made him who he is today, some residents wiped away tears.

Candidate Yoodonggyun mentioned the five major friendly cities for the elderly, children, women, youth, and single-person households, saying Mapo District “will be a strong shield for the socially vulnerable,” and added, “Even if you have no home, money, or family to help, Mapo District will take responsibility.”

He continued, “Administration is like a fence; it will not be a survival-of-the-fittest animal world where only the strong survive. We will create a Mapo where the weak, the disabled, and those without money or power will not face inconvenience.” He also declared, “Just as you can tell a person’s future path by the path they have walked, I will proudly be evaluated by the residents of Mapo through the achievements of the past four years working for the development of Mapo District.”