Former Minister Won, Smiling, "Alright, I Understand"
Also to Democratic Party Members, "We Should Greet and Talk to Each Other"
"Ah, it ruins the appetite. Please go away!"
Won Hee-ryong, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the People Power Party candidate for Incheon Gyeyang-eul, recently received this kind of rebuke from a citizen at a restaurant he visited during a local campaign.
On the 3rd, the YouTube channel Won Hee-ryong TV released a video showing Won greeting citizens while touring Imhak-dong, Gyeyang-gu on the 28th of last month. Former national soccer team player Lee Cheon-soo and People Power Party officials also joined the campaign that day. The commotion occurred when Won and his party entered a galbi (Korean BBQ ribs) restaurant.
Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong (center), who ran as the People Power Party candidate for Incheon Gyeyang-eul, received protests from citizens while greeting people at a restaurant in Imhak-dong, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon on the 28th of last month. [Image source=YouTube 'Won Hee-ryong TV' capture]
While greeting citizens on the street, Won said, "I smell charcoal-grilled ribs," and entered the galbi restaurant. He shook hands with the restaurant owner and introduced his sponsor chairman, Lee Cheon-soo, to the owner. At that moment, a citizen dining at a table let out an "Ah!" sound. Won turned his body toward the table where the sound came from, bowed his head, and said, "Hello." The citizen responded, "Ah, it ruins the appetite. Please go away!" Won smiled and tried to calm the situation by saying, "Oh my, I understand. Please take care."
Nevertheless, the citizen shouted toward the restaurant owner, "Owner, please don't just let anyone in (to the restaurant)." Won looked at the citizen again and said, "Understood," then moved to another table. Won introduced himself to the citizens and offered his hand, but a woman refused to shake hands, saying, "I am a Democratic Party member." Won replied, "Even if you are a Democratic Party member, we can still shake hands."
As he was leaving the restaurant, Won looked again toward the table where the commotion had occurred and said, "Even Democratic Party members should greet and talk to each other, shouldn't they? Enjoy your meal." Lee Cheon-soo also looked in that direction and bowed several times, saying, "Sir, I am from here." The table responded, "Go away, you face representative."
The restaurant owner, who was waiting outside, showed an apologetic reaction about the disturbance inside. Won said, "I don't mind at all." When the owner said, "It's a bit regional," Won replied, "No, then just for yourselves," adding, "We have to live together. Everyone should be happy together."
Meanwhile, on the 2nd, Won sharply criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding their confirmed head-to-head contest in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul general election. Won posted on Facebook a message titled "Criminal suspect or local worker," stating, "No region in South Korea should be held hostage by a specific political party. Gyeyang is no exception."
Won said, "In Gyeyang-eul, two Democratic Party leaders have emerged over the past 25 years, but Gyeyang's development has been slow, and residents' lives have not improved," emphasizing, "Now, even if they nominate a criminal suspect or make absurd pledges, they will no longer be elected unconditionally." He compared himself and Lee to soccer team coaches Klinsmann and Hiddink, saying, "Gyeyang must change to develop. It will definitely change, and Won Hee-ryong will really make it happen."
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