Yoo Gi-sang, Candidate for Gochang County Governor, Urges "Do Not Exploit Food Industry Promotion as a Tool for Political Strife"

[Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Yoo Gisang, candidate for Gochang County Governor, stated in a press release on the 24th, "I deeply regret that the '2050 Carbon Neutrality Proclamation Ceremony' and the 'Agricultural and Livestock Products Promotion, Sales, and Thanksgiving Festival,' held last year on Agricultural Day for the development of Gochang County's agricultural life culture food industry, the promotion of the High Gochang brand, and the management stability of farmers and farming households, seem to have been exploited as tools for political strife."

Candidate Yoo said about the event held that day, organized by the Gochangdol Village Community and attended by the chairman of the county council, the president of the agricultural organization, and the representative of the Gochangdol Village Community, "Due to the spread of COVID-19 confirmed cases, the Agricultural Day event was canceled, and only the Cheonje (heavenly ritual) was conducted to reenact the prehistoric agricultural cultural lifestyle."

He added, "At that time, we had changed into traditional clothing, and due to a busy schedule and rainy weather creating a chaotic atmosphere, the conditions were not suitable to carefully observe the surroundings, so it is true that we mistook the altar and offerings for models."

Furthermore, he claimed, "It is not right to exploit the situation of mistaken recognition of the altar and offerings made of Styrofoam suddenly presented at the end of the debate."

He pointed out, "I believe that candidate Shim Deokseop thought the citizens' debate evaluation was putting him on the defensive, and to overcome this, dragging the county's pride in Gochangdol historical culture and biosphere reserve promotion, as well as events to boost the morale of citizens, especially farmers, and promote agricultural products into the election is inappropriate behavior for a leader."

Finally, he emphasized, "A county governor candidate must at least win the hearts of the citizens with policy pledges and a vision on how they will design and lead the county over the next four years."

Candidate Yoo stated, "Through the legal debate on the 23rd, the wise and solemn citizens must have decided which candidate will rightly lead the 8th term of the local government with vision and philosophy for four years, and I am confident that they will elect me, Yoo Gisang, whose skills and achievements have been verified, as the re-elected county governor for the continuous growth and development of the county."

Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil gjg7070@asiae.co.kr