Handonghun's Consecutive Livelihood Visits at Gyeongdong Market... Calls Junyeondonghyeong Proportional Representation "Lee Jaemyung's Gerrymandering"

Handonghun Buys Beondegi and Eomuk with Onnuri Gift Certificates
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Regarding 5.18 Constitutional Inclusion: "Depends on Procedural Issues"

Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, continued his daily visits to address public livelihood issues, including a visit to Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Regarding Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, choosing the semi-proportional representation system for the upcoming April general election, Han sharply criticized it as "gerrymandering tailored to Lee’s preferences."

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is greeting merchants at Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul on the 5th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the afternoon of the 5th, around 2 p.m., Chairman Han visited Gyeongdong Market and spent about an hour greeting merchants and residents and listening to their concerns. After conversing with the merchants, Han purchased silkworm pupae, fish cakes, raw chicken, and nuts using Onnuri gift certificates and cash. Responding to a merchant’s request to "try Busan fish cakes before leaving," he stopped to eat some fish cakes and also packed some to take away. He then visited the cafe 'Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960,' which donates 300 won per item sold to the Gyeongdong Market Merchants Association, and ordered an iced Americano.

Han’s visit to Gyeongdong Market is seen as a continuation of his efforts to engage with public livelihood issues. On the 2nd, he also visited a traditional market in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, where he talked with merchants and bought hotteok (sweet pancakes) and garaetteok (cylindrical rice cakes). On that day, Han said, "The economy is not doing well ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday," and added, "I came here with the intention to work harder to stimulate the economy." He also explained his reason for visiting Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 by saying, "Starbucks is a strong player in its industry and not a place frequented by ordinary people, but it has become a landmark inside Gyeongdong Market. I think the coexistence model between Starbucks and Gyeongdong Market is beneficial for everyone."

Han responded that he would consider requests for improvements regarding the increase in train frequency on the Suin-Bundang Line passing through Dongdaemun-gu. The Suin-Bundang Line runs from Incheon Station through Suwon in Gyeonggi Province and Gangnam-gu in Seoul to Cheongnyangni. However, there have been ongoing demands to increase the number of trains, as only nine one-way trips operate daily between Wangsimni and Cheongnyangni. Han said, "Citizens often make raw and direct requests when I meet them in person," and added, "I took those requests seriously and said I would carefully review the matter."

Han Dong-hoon: "Semi-proportional Representation System Is Too Complicated... The Goal of Elections Is to Realize the People's Interests"

On the 5th, four days before the Lunar New Year holiday, Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited Cheongnyangni Fruit and Vegetable Market and Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, holding up purchased goods and greeting citizens. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Han compared Lee’s choice of the semi-proportional representation system to gerrymandering. Gerrymandering refers to the act of designing electoral systems to favor a particular party or candidate. Han said, "Is everything being gerrymandered to suit Lee’s taste? Why should the people’s election system be influenced by the Democratic Party, Lee, and former President Moon Jae-in’s positions?" Amid growing conflicts between pro-Lee Jae-myung and anti-Lee factions within the Democratic Party over the general election nominations, Lee visited Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan, Gyeongnam Province, the day before and paid respects to former President Moon.

Han also criticized, "Please compare how much Lee’s statements about the proportional representation system have changed. How can the people trust Lee’s words? Democracy is not about the people having to follow whenever Lee changes his mind." He added, "There is no election that the people do not need to know about, but the semi-proportional representation system is too complicated. The goal of elections is to realize the people’s interests," and said, "We have never agreed to the Democratic Party’s semi-proportional representation system. I think there is still a long way to go."

Meanwhile, Han reiterated his support for including the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in the preamble of the Constitution but expressed that immediate implementation is difficult. This was seen as a response to Lee’s remarks earlier that day at the on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju, where Lee said, "Chairman Han visited Gwangju and supported including the spirit of May 18 in the constitutional preamble. I hope he does not say he will do it after the election but implements it right now." Han said, "I also expressed my support for including the spirit of May 18 in the constitutional preamble," but added, "Constitutional amendment involves very complex procedural issues. Since the Constitution has not been amended since 1987, it is a matter that needs to be discussed comprehensively."