Visiting Every Shop to Encourage Merchants
Sundae Soup Luncheon with Merchant Association Members
Highlighting a Pro-Labor, Pro-Ordinary People, and Pro-Small Business Image
Kim: "I Will Become a President Who Serves the People from the Lowest Place"
Rallying Conservative Support in Daejeon and Daegu in the Afternoon
Mending Conservative Sentiment Disappointed by the Candidate Unification Process
Paying Respects at the National Daejeon Cemetery to West Sea Defenders
Campaign Rally at Seomun Market, the "Heart of Conservatism" in Daegu
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, pledged on May 12, "I will build a Republic of Korea where those who work hard can prosper," and promised, "I will become the market president, the president for people's livelihoods, and the president for the economy."
Starting around 5 a.m. that day, Kim visited fruit and vegetable stalls on the first basement floor of Building 2 at Garak Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, encouraging the merchants and making these remarks. As a former labor activist and Minister of Employment and Labor, Kim chose Garak Market as the starting point for his first presidential campaign event, a move interpreted as a strategy to emphasize his pro-ordinary people, pro-labor, and pro-small business image.
Upon arriving at Garak Market, Kim greeted Kim Yongtae, the newly appointed acting chairman of the People Power Party's emergency committee, and members of the merchants' association who had been waiting for him. Lee Manhee, who served as the head of Kim's campaign entourage, and Park Junghoon (Songpa-gap) and Bae Hyunjin (Songpa-eul), both members of the National Assembly representing Songpa, also accompanied Kim on his schedule that day.
The merchants welcomed Kim as he entered the market, chanting, "Kim Moonsoo, fighting!" and "We support Kim Moonsoo." One merchant asked Kim, "Please revive the economy," while another said, "Please win the election. You must do well. Business is not going well. Please help small business owners here continue their work." Kim responded, "Of course," and assured them, "Even if business is tough, I will take responsibility and do my best."
When Kim Yongtae entered a fruit and vegetable stall and purchased some lettuce, Kim commented, "We should buy a lot," and added, "One bundle for 10,000 won."
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is visiting Garak Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the first day of official campaign activities for the 21st presidential election, taking commemorative photos with merchants. Photo by Yonhap News
While touring the produce stalls, when a merchant pleaded, "Please help revive the market," Kim replied, "Because restaurants aren't doing well, the market isn't doing well. I will do my best," and added, "People go out to eat when they have children, but there are no children. That seems to be the hardest part." Kim then visited each shop individually, encouraging the merchants by saying, "Stay strong despite the difficulties," and "I hope you sell a lot."
Kim had breakfast with members of the merchants' association at a sundae soup restaurant inside Garak Market, listening to their requests. When Kim asked, "How is business these days?" a representative replied, "It's the worst." Kim then pointed to local lawmaker Bae and suggested, "Appoint Representative Bae as the Garak Market ambassador and let her handle the promotion," adding, "Representative Bae, please do a lot to promote the market."
One merchant pointed out that even though Garak Market operates on a six-day week, merchants cannot rest because auctions are held on Sunday evenings. While each shop can close individually, doing so risks losing customers to competitors, so the merchants requested that the market be allowed to operate on a five-day week so everyone could rest at the same time. The merchant also mentioned that farmers face pressure from their organizations to ship products daily, making the implementation of a five-day workweek difficult.
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, visited Garak Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the first day of official campaigning for the 21st presidential election on the 12th. He is eating sundae soup with members of the merchants' association at a restaurant inside the market. / Photo by Lee Gimin
When the sundae soup was served, a member of the merchants' association asked Kim if he usually drinks alcohol. Kim replied, "I am not a drinker," and said he has not been drinking recently. He also revealed that he is currently quitting smoking, saying, "Quitting smoking is the most important thing. I don't even cough anymore," and joked, "If you don't drink, you say fewer silly things."
After finishing his market visit, Kim met with reporters and said, "Garak-dong Agricultural and Fishery Market is a place where you can experience vivid reality beyond any statistical indicator or news article," and emphasized, "Here, I truly felt that I must become the market president, the president for people's livelihoods, the president for the economy, and the president who leads Korea to prosperity."
He continued, "I will become a president who serves you from the lowest place, so that the sweat and hard work of those who work tirelessly through the night despite hardships will bear fruit." He added, "No matter how difficult things are, there is always hope. We can do it. I pledged to become a president who gives people the confidence that we can solve every problem."
Moon Soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, visited Garak Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the first day of official campaign activities for the 21st presidential election. Photo by Yonhap News
Regarding the appointment of 35-year-old Kim Yongtae as acting chairman of the emergency committee, Kim said, "Even when I was in prison at 35, I never lost courage or hope," and added, "This young lawmaker Kim Yongtae has the youthful energy needed to transform Korea into a land of hope, a country where dreams come true."
He continued, "Through Representative Kim, many young people will be energized to reform our People Power Party and to sweep away all the old, outdated practices of the party." Kim Yongtae also pledged, "We will show the public a rapidly changing party that will surprise everyone."
Asked about his strategy to catch up with Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, in the polls, Kim said, "As you saw yesterday, no one expected me to become the candidate. Even I didn't know," referring to the results of the party member vote before the candidate switch. He continued, "We hit rock bottom, but then we made a dramatic comeback. That is what politics is. Politics is not mathematics. It is a dramatic activity fueled by the tremendous energy of the people's will," emphasizing that a reversal is possible.
After visiting Garak Market, Kim planned to visit Daejeon and Daegu in succession to rally core conservative support. This move is seen as an effort to mend conservative sentiment following internal conflicts during the recent unification process with former Prime Minister Han. When asked by reporters about how he plans to resolve internal party conflicts and achieve unity after the candidate unification, Kim mentioned that after regaining his candidacy, he met with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, offered him the position of campaign chairman, and embraced him. He added, "There is a saying that the ground hardens after the rain. I believe we gain true joy through suffering."
First, in Daejeon, Kim will visit the National Daejeon Cemetery to pay respects to those who died in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Yeonpyeong Island artillery battle, and the 46 sailors of the Cheonan. He will then move to the Daejeon City Party office to attend a campaign launch event for the Chungcheong region, a key swing area. In Daegu, he will visit Seomun Market, known as the "heart of conservatism," to inspect the state of the people's livelihoods and prices and to hold a major campaign rally.
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