Lee Jae Myung Visits Incheon: "Wouldn't I Take Better Care of the Neighborhood I Live In?"

Incheon Namdong-gu Rodeo Square Campaign Site
"Transportation Situation Worst in the Eastern Metropolitan Area"
"If You Don't Understand, You're a Fool; If You Distort, You're a Bad Person"

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, emphasized regional development, including the expansion of transportation infrastructure, to Incheon citizens on the 21st, saying, "Wouldn’t I take better care of the neighborhood I live in?"

At a campaign rally held at Rodeo Square in Namdong-gu, Incheon that afternoon, Lee stated, "I might become the first president from Incheon, and as the saying goes, 'one’s arm bends inward,'" highlighting his commitment to the region.

Lee said, "Among the Seoul metropolitan area, if you look at east, west, south, and north, the east has the worst transportation situation," and added, "After moving here and commuting, I found that a distance that takes 20 to 30 minutes by car at night takes as long as 1 hour and 40 minutes in the morning." He emphasized, "Since I have personally experienced these transportation and infrastructure issues, I will pay special attention to them."

Lee remarked, "It’s been about three years since I became an Incheon citizen, and now I feel attached to the city?I feel like a true Incheon citizen." He continued, "There is a saying that symbolizes Incheon: 'Haebulyangsu.' It means the sea accepts both muddy and clear water without discrimination. Does this not represent Incheon’s spirit of integration?" He appealed for support, saying, "They say a real victory is winning in Incheon. Will you help me achieve that?"

Lee Jae Myung Visits Incheon: "Wouldn't I Take Better Care of the Neighborhood I Live In?"

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is appealing for voters' support at a campaign rally held at Guwol Rodeo Square in Namdong-gu, Incheon on the 21st. 2025.5.21 Photo by Kim Hyun Min

He also reiterated the necessity of his so-called 'hotel economy theory,' which he advocated during last weekend’s presidential TV debate. Lee argued, "Even if you have 1 million won, if it just sits there, that’s a recession. But if even 100,000 won circulates from one household to another, it becomes 1 million won and the economy is revitalized."

He added, "If someone twists that idea and fails to understand it, they are a fool; if they deliberately distort it, they are a bad person." He raised his voice, saying, "The government should increase fiscal spending?even implementing a New Deal policy if necessary."

Lee also explained the difficult economic situation and stressed the government’s role. He said, "If the government doesn’t spend money in times like these, when will it?" He continued, "Some people ignorantly say that national debt has increased by 1,000 trillion won and that the country should not go into debt. But our gross national product is 2,600 trillion won, and national debt is less than 50% of that," asserting the soundness of public finances.

He further stated, "During COVID-19, when the economy was struggling, other countries took on debt to support their citizens, but Korea’s support remained the same or even decreased. As a result, household debt surged, turning everyone into debtors. Now, many businesses are closing, and people are so busy repaying debt that the economy is dying."

Lee Jae Myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a speech on a podium surrounded by bulletproof glass at a campaign rally held at Guwol Rodeo Square in Namdong-gu, Incheon on the 21st. 2025.5.21 Photo by Kim Hyun Min