"Election Campaign Must Have Been Difficult, Thank You"
Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, expressed his gratitude to former soccer player Lee Cheon-soo, who served as the chairman of the support committee for former Incheon Gyeyang-eul candidate Won Hee-ryong in the 22nd general election, and singer Kim Heung-guk, who supported the People Power Party.
On the 15th, Mayor Hong opened his remarks on his Facebook, saying, "Recently, a rising star actor asked me for a selfie when we met at a golf course in Daegu, but I politely declined." He continued, "In the entertainment world where there is no left or right, because I took a photo with me, the rising national actor was criticized by the opposing side, so I declined to avoid causing harm to that person."
Mayor Hong said, "I was truly moved to see Lee Cheon-soo in Gyeyang-eul these days," adding, "It must not have been easy for someone who has become a kind of celebrity, despite knowing the potential losses, to step forward on our side and act like that." He also said, "Moreover, in this arena where left-leaning entertainers openly show off, it must have been difficult for our side to campaign, so I thank Kim Heung-guk and Lee Cheon-soo."
Lee Cheon-soo: "I Do Not Support Any Party... I Only Look at People"
Former People Power Party candidate Won Hee-ryong, who lost in the 22nd National Assembly general election in Incheon Gyeyang-eul, is greeting supporters after his defeat together with former national soccer player Lee Cheon-soo. [Image source=Former candidate Won Hee-ryong's Facebook]
Earlier, Lee Cheon-soo accepted the position of chairman of the support committee for former candidate Won on the 22nd of last month and campaigned to assist him. The connection between former candidate Won and Lee Cheon-soo is said to have started when Lee visited the Jeju Girls' High School soccer team, which was on the brink of disbandment due to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's suspension of support in 2016, to encourage them. He also accompanied former candidate Won during his concession speech.
In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo released that day, Lee Cheon-soo said, "I do not support any party. I do not know politics or left and right. However, Gyeyang-eul is where I grew up, where I first started playing soccer, and where friends I played soccer with still live. It is like my hometown, and I thought that to escape from an underdeveloped area and develop, a capable and strong worker must come."
Regarding the criticism of being a "traitor" for supporting former candidate Won, he replied, "Maybe because they don't understand politics, but I only look at people. It's very simple. If I like someone, that's the end of it."
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