Lee Jae-myung: "The Gale Is Turning into a Typhoon... We Can Win If We Unite"

Lee Jae-myung Emphasizes Democratic Party Unity for the '6·1 Local Elections'

Lee Jae-myung, the standing advisor of the Democratic Party of Korea who ran in the by-election for the National Assembly member of Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, is giving a greeting speech at the launch ceremony of the 'June 1 Local Election Democratic Party of Korea Incheon City Integrated Election Countermeasures Committee' held at the election office of Park Nam-chun, candidate for mayor of Incheon, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, on the afternoon of the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gyehwa] Lee Jae-myung, Senior Advisor of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 16th regarding the June 1 local election outlook, "If we unite, (the Democratic Party) can win," adding, "The gust is turning into a typhoon."

Lee, who is running in the by-election for the National Assembly seat in Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, made these remarks at the launch ceremony of the Democratic Party's integrated election committee in Incheon, held at the election office of Park Nam-chun, the Incheon mayoral candidate, in Juan-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon. He said, "Even though this election is held just 20 days after the president's inauguration, a new history is emerging where the approval ratings of both ruling and opposition parties are similar."

On the tenth day since arriving in Gyeyang, Lee noted that the residents' welcoming attitude has changed, saying, "I have visited areas such as Namdong-gu, Michuhol-gu, and Seo-gu in Incheon, and confidence is being restored." He continued, "The Democratic Party must win for the future of our country," urging, "Democratic Party candidates, including myself, must throw everything into this with a death-defying resolve, appealing to the people with urgency day and night."

As the overall senior co-chairman of the local election campaign committee, he said, "Many people said that elections held after the presidential election are extremely difficult," and lamented, "Although many advised me to pretend not to know, I could not avoid taking responsibility for the difficulties faced by local election candidates following the presidential election defeat."

He quoted Admiral Yi Sun-sin, saying, "When everyone felt fear and dread with only 13 ships, he said, 'The way to live is to be prepared to die,'" expressing his determination that if the public, who felt despair and frustration after the presidential election and said they "could not even turn on the TV," transform that into new hope and fighting spirit and participate in voting, victory is possible.

He raised his voice, saying, "We must win in Incheon to achieve victories in other regions such as the metropolitan area and Gangwon Province."

Lee emphasized, "The people chose judgment in the last presidential election, and one round of punishment is enough," adding, "Now, we must move toward a competition of who can be loyal and contribute to the people, which will balance things out and improve the quality of life for the people."

Meanwhile, Park Nam-chun, the Incheon mayoral candidate who attended the launch ceremony, appealed, "We must win starting from Incheon, the foothold for victory in the metropolitan local elections," and said, "Park Nam-chun's victory will be Lee Jae-myung's victory, giving (the senior advisor) the strength to fight against the Yoon Suk-yeol government."