Handonghun Swept from Hangang Belt to Gangbuk Area and Northern Gyeonggi (Comprehensive)

"Join Forces to Judge Criminals Through Elections"
"'Politics Like Dogs' Remark Also Under Scrutiny"
"Demand to Reduce VAT from 10% to 5%"

"Look only at the people and explain to the people to vote."

Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and General Election Campaign Chairman of the People Power Party, held campaign rallies in the competitive Hangang Belt starting from Mapo, Seoul, on the first official day of election campaigning on the 28th. He then moved up to Gangbuk, a stronghold of the opposition party, and finished his campaign in Namyangju and Uijeongbu, challenging districts of the ruling party. On that day alone, he visited a total of 12 constituencies to hold support rallies.

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and General Election Campaign Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is appealing for support together with candidates Oh Shinhwan and Kim Byungmin at Sinseong Market in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Chairman Han appealed for support at the Mangwon Station area in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, saying, "The April 10 general election will be the most important election in the history of the Republic of Korea since the 1987 presidential election." He said, "This election will decide whether Korea advances or regresses, prospers or declines, becomes fair or falls under the rule of criminals," and added, "We have entered this election with the determination to reform politics, reform people’s livelihoods, and judge criminals," urging people to unite their strength.

Chairman Han brought up the pledge of "complete relocation of the National Assembly," announced the previous day in Mapo, adjacent to Yeouido, saying, "I came here to resolve regulations related to reconstruction and all unreasonable regulations that interfere with your lives," and added, "We need to change the National Assembly Act, so the People Power Party must win in the National Assembly for this to be possible."

Han’s "Dog-like Politics" Remark Under Fire

At a campaign rally in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Chairman Han said, "Politics is very important. It can change your lives," but also said, "The problem is people who do politics like dogs," which is expected to cause controversy. He further emphasized, "If you vote only for those labeled as the people, the world will change and criminals will retreat," and "We must remove criminals from this important politics." This is interpreted as meaning that the problem is not the political system but the politicians themselves, implying that leaders such as Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party and Cho Guk of the Cho Guk Innovation Party should be judged.

After Chairman Han’s remarks, Kim Min-seok, head of the Democratic Party’s comprehensive situation room, urged calm, saying, "We hope candidates refrain from overreacting to Chairman Han’s profanity." This appears to be an effort to prevent the response to the remarks from sparking further controversy.

On the 28th, when the official election campaign for the April 10 general election began, People Power Party campaigners appealed for support at Sinseong Market in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Earlier, on the 27th, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, visited Muhak Market in Chungju, Chungbuk, and caused controversy by saying, "When Representative Bae Hyun-jin was hit by a stone, a police line was set up, scientific investigation was conducted, and evidence was collected with a big fuss, but when the ruling party leader’s throat was stabbed and bleeding, the bloodstain was cleaned within an hour."

"Demand to Reduce VAT on Processed Foods from 10% to 5%"

Chairman Han moved to Hoegi Station in Dongdaemun-gu and announced measures to control prices. This is interpreted as emphasizing that his party is committed to people’s livelihoods.

Chairman Han said, "We strongly demanded the government temporarily reduce the value-added tax from 10% to 5%?half off?on processed foods such as baby and childcare products, ramen, instant rice, canned goods, and staple ingredients like sugar and flour, which are closely related to the lives of ordinary people," adding, "If necessary, we will also push for legal amendments."

He added, "To stabilize prices of agricultural and livestock products, we demanded the government take more active measures, such as holding large-scale agricultural and livestock product fairs using gift certificates and cashback systems," and said, "I understand the government is preparing positive measures as well."

"Has Development Happened While Electing the Democratic Party?"

On the 28th, citizens are watching the People Power Party's election campaign on the street in front of the statue of Taejo Yi Seong-gye in Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Photo by Choi Young-chan]

Chairman Han visited opposition strongholds in Seoul such as Nowon, Dobong, and Gangbuk districts, as well as Namyangju and Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province, and raised the argument for judging the opposition party. At the Forest Trail Park on the Gyeongchun Line in Nowon, he said, "Has Nowon sufficiently developed while the Democratic Party has continuously held the seats here?" and added, "There is someone who has been continuously researching how to make Nowon more beautiful and a better place to live. Together with Hyun Kyung-byeong (Nowon Gap), I will change Nowon."

At the final stop of his schedule in Uijeongbu, he said, "The Democratic Party and Leader Lee have no interest in Uijeongbu, so why do you keep electing only Democratic Party lawmakers?" and asked, "Does Leader Lee have a vision for Uijeongbu like I do?" He also criticized Lee’s expression during his visit to Uijeongbu on the 23rd, saying, "If Gyeonggi is divided, it becomes Gangwon West? That is not only an insult to Gangwon but also a really ignorant statement," and argued, "The special autonomous region of northern Gyeonggi will be centered on Uijeongbu, receiving deregulation reforms and focused investment, so why wouldn’t Uijeongbu develop?"

Chairman Han plans to continue his second day of campaigning on the 29th, starting from Yeongdeungpo and Dongjak-gu in Seoul, then visiting Uiwang, Gwacheon, Anyang, Pyeongtaek, Osan, and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province.