Campaigning for Democratic Party Candidates Across Ulsan Dong, Jung, and Nam Districts
Moon: "An Important Election That Determines the Fate of the Republic of Korea"
Ruling Party: "Claimed to Want to Be Forgotten but Made Inappropriate Election Interference"
Ahead of the general election, former President Moon Jae-in, who has stepped up to support the Democratic Party of Korea, voiced criticism of the government for two consecutive days. The People Power Party recalled Moon’s remark at the time of his departure that he wanted to be "forgotten" and opposed his involvement in the election as inappropriate.
On the 2nd, former President Moon visited Ulsan to consecutively support candidates Kim Tae-seon (Dong-gu), Oh Sang-taek (Jung-gu), and Jeon Eun-su (Nam-gu Gap). First, he appeared with First Lady Kim Jung-sook at the exhibition hall of Boseong School in Dong-gu, Ulsan, where he shook hands with supporters and took photos one by one. He wore a blue hiking jacket symbolizing the Democratic Party. When asked by reporters about the reason for his visit to Ulsan, he replied, "This general election is an extremely important election that will determine the fate of the Republic of Korea," adding, "I am quietly sending support to regions or candidates with whom I have special ties."
Former President Moon Jae-in visited Gunggeorang-gil in Samho-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, on the afternoon of the 2nd and greeted citizens together with Jeon Eun-su, the Democratic Party candidate for Nam-gu Gap. [Image source=Yonhap News]
After the exhibition hall, former President Moon visited the birthplace of Seong Se-bin, the founder of Boseong School. There, he praised candidate Kim Tae-seon, saying, "He is a colleague who worked with me at the Blue House during the previous government. Just as the Moon Jae-in administration revived the collapsed shipbuilding industry, candidate Kim can revive the collapsed livelihoods," and added, "I came here with the hope of his election."
In the afternoon, he continued his support campaign by touring Taehwagang National Garden in Jung-gu and Gunggeorang-gil in Samho-dong, Nam-gu. At the event supporting Oh Sang-taek, who is running in Jung-gu, he criticized, "In my seventy years of life, having experienced several governments, I have never seen a government perform as poorly as this one." He lamented, "Our politics have become too desolate," and added, "It has degenerated into low-quality politics filled with abusive and harsh language." The day before, while supporting Lee Jae-young, candidate for Yangsan City Gap in Gyeongnam, Moon also remarked, "In my seventy years, I have never seen a government perform this poorly," calling it "truly ignorant, incompetent, and immoral." This bolstered the Democratic Party’s 'regime judgment theory.'
Former President Moon also met candidate Jeon Eun-su in Samho-dong, Nam-gu, saying, "This election must give hope to our people," and emphasized, "For that, the Democratic Party will take the lead, but opposition parties such as the National Innovation Party and New Future must unite their strength." When asked what role he would play in this general election, he replied, "Quietly supporting and encouraging is what I can do."
While most former presidents have kept a distance from elections for the sake of national unity, former President Moon has been lending support by visiting candidates in the 'Nakdong River Belt,' starting with a visit to Lee Jae-young’s campaign office in Yangsan City Gap, Gyeongnam, on the 24th of last month. On the 27th of last month, he met candidate Byeon Gwang-yong in Geoje City, Gyeongnam, and on the 1st, candidate Bae Jae-jung in Sasang-gu, Busan, consecutively holding support rallies, and on this day, he covered the Ulsan area as well.
Former President Moon Jae-in is shaking hands with citizens on the afternoon of the 2nd at Taehwagang National Garden along with Oh Sang-taek, the Democratic Party candidate for Jung-gu. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The People Power Party reacted strongly, calling it 'election interference.' The Ulsan City Party Election Countermeasures Committee of the People Power Party issued a statement through its spokesperson on the same day, saying, "Former President Moon Jae-in, who said he wanted to be 'forgotten' after leaving office, visited Ulsan today following his visit to Busan yesterday to support Democratic Party candidates," adding, "It is unprecedented and unprecedented for a former president to openly campaign in an election."
They particularly referred to the 'Ulsan mayoral election interference' case during the Moon administration, stating, "While former Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho and National Assembly member Hwang Un-ha are facing stern legal judgment, public attention is focused on former President Moon, who is ultimately responsible for all these illegal acts," and raised their voice, "If he has even a little fear of the people, we hope he will reveal the truth to the citizens of Ulsan and the public."
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