Lee Jae Myung Visits Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk: "Presidential Election Is About Choosing a Worker"

Listening to the Voices of Local Small Business Owners
Visits to Gyeongju, Yeongcheon, Gimcheon, Seongju, and More

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, embarked on his "Every Alley Listening Tour" on May 9, visiting the Gyeongbuk region, which is considered a challenging area for his party, to meet with voters.

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party candidate, is talking with citizens on a street in Yonggangdong, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Lim Chunhan.

On this day, Lee visited a traditional market in Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk, and stated, "The Republic of Korea does not belong to any political group, nor does it belong to the president," adding, "The presidential election is not about choosing a king. It is about selecting a diligent worker who will faithfully serve for a better life."

He emphasized, "The choices made by those we elect will affect not only our own lives but also the lives of the next generation," and continued, "How hard do we work for our children? Aren't we taking on two or three jobs, struggling desperately to get by?"

Lee said, "The people of our nation are great. On the night of the December 3·12 rebellion last year, we overcame that crisis, and we held former President Park Geun Hye accountable for her wrongdoings," and urged, "On June 3, please exercise your sovereign power to determine the fate of this country and your own lives."

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is greeting residents on a street in Yonggangdong, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News

While visiting shopping areas in Yonggangdong, Gyeongju, Lee addressed the citizens, saying, "The true owners of this country are the people," and emphasized, "People like me are merely tools chosen by the sovereign citizens. We are workers to be put to faithful use." He then asked, "Isn't a ballot stronger than a bullet?" and added, "Even on the night of the December 3·12 rebellion last year, didn't we overcome guns and armored vehicles with our bare hands?"

Lee stated, "The world will come to regard Korea highly, not only for its culture but in every aspect," and stressed, "The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit must be successful. The National Assembly will also do its part to ensure this." He continued, "Gyeongju should not face extinction as a provincial city, but instead rise as a new millennium capital where brilliant culture flourishes magnificently."

At the scene, Democratic Party members and supporters gathered in large numbers. One citizen remarked, "I wonder if I can be seen from here. It's hard to see because of the umbrellas," and added, "There are people here who appear on TV." Another citizen said, "I need to show this to my children," and, "I have to take a good picture." As Lee arrived, party members dressed in blue chanted slogans such as "President Lee Jae Myung" and "Lee Jae Myung, fighting."

Starting with Gyeongju, where the APEC summit will be held, Lee plans to visit Yeongcheon, Gimcheon, Seongju, and Goryeong in succession. Through visits to local markets, he intends to listen to the difficulties faced by small business owners suffering from the economic downturn and to hear the vivid voices of Gyeongbuk residents on site.

This Listening Tour is Lee's final schedule to meet with local voters before the official election campaign begins on May 12. Previously, Lee conducted the first round of Listening Tours in border areas and the Yeongdong region of Gangwon, and the second round in the southern Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Jeonbuk regions.