Democratic Candidate An Gwiyeong, Unable to Answer Merchant's Question "What Neighborhood Is This?" During Campaign Speech

"Getting Criticized?" Market Vendor Also Rebukes

Ahn Gwi-ryeong, the Democratic Party candidate running in the Seoul Dobong-gap district, was caught unable to properly answer the name of a neighborhood. Although Ahn was strategically nominated for the district, it is known that she has no local ties to Dobong-gu.

Ahn's situation was captured in a recent video posted on a YouTube channel. The video is reported to have been taken on the 7th. In the video, during a campaign at Sinchang Market in Chang 2-dong, Dobong-gu, she hesitates and fails to answer when a merchant asks, "What neighborhood is this?"

When people around her inform her that it is "Chang 2-dong," Ahn replies, "I understand." A man who appears to be an aide to Ahn is also seen saying, "Now we should inform (the merchant)."

Ahn Gwiryeong, Democratic Party of Korea Candidate for Dobong Gap, Seoul Photo by Ahn Gwiryeong Facebook

The merchant points out, "You should know, or you'll be criticized," adding, "People who come here will all leave." When he asks again, "What neighborhood is the market across the street in?" Ahn again fails to answer. Another merchant listening to the conversation says, "Chang 3-dong," and scolds, "Why is that? Our candidate just arrived."

The merchant offers food to Ahn. When Ahn jokingly says, "I don't think I deserve to eat," the merchant asks, "My hometown is the same as the candidate's. Where is Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader's hometown?" Ahn immediately answers, "Andong." The merchant then offers food to Ahn.

Candidate Ahn receiving food from a market vendor [Image source: YouTube video capture]

Although the video ends on a friendly note, some criticized Ahn's attitude. In particular, Kim Jae-seop, the People Power Party candidate competing against Ahn in Dobong-gap, wrote on his Facebook on the 11th, "No matter how much of a parachute nomination without local ties it is, isn't this a bit too much?" He criticized, "The place the candidate did not know is the largest market in Dobong-gap, where my mother used to shop to prepare meals for our family."

He added, "Is Dobong-gu a Democratic Party pushover that must vote for the Democratic candidate if they run? To me, Dobong-gu is my family's home and the place where my daughter was born and raised. Even if the election is held under favorable circumstances, I hope Dobong-gu is treated with care."

Meanwhile, Ahn entered politics after joining the campaign of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate in 2022, while working as a YTN anchor. The Democratic Party strategically nominated Ahn for Seoul Dobong-gap last month. However, since Ahn has no ties to the area, criticism arose that it was a "parachute nomination" without local connections.