"One Vote Can Change History"
Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, visited Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province?his political hometown?on June 2, the day before the 21st presidential election, and declared, "I, Lee Jae Myung, a loyal and competent worker who has achieved results through action, will build a true Republic of Korea together with our great people."
Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is taking questions from reporters after reading a press conference statement at Seongnam Resident Church in Sujeong District, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News
On this day, Lee held a press conference in front of Seongnam Resident Church and said, "Your single vote can change history and protect democracy," making this appeal to the public.
Seongnam Resident Church is a place with deep ties to Lee from his days as a human rights lawyer in Seongnam at the end of 2003. At that time, Lee was serving as co-chair of the Seongnam City Hospital Establishment Promotion Committee, leading a movement with Seongnam citizens to establish a municipal hospital. However, the city council, dominated by the Grand National Party, railroaded the dismissal of the first-ever citizen-initiated ordinance in just 47 seconds. In protest, Lee, along with citizens attending the session, objected and was subsequently wanted on charges of obstructing official duties. The church across from the city council building was where he sought refuge at that time. Lee later recalled, "I realized that social movements alone cannot change the world, and decided to enter politics."
At the press conference, Lee stated, "Seongnam is where Lee Jae Myung, the boy factory worker, endured hardships but also nurtured his dreams, and where Lee Jae Myung, the civic activist, brought about social change," adding, "From my political hometown of Seongnam, I promise to open the future of Korea together with the people."
He continued, "My life has been a journey of turning the impossible into possible. When I took office as mayor of Seongnam, the city was rife with corruption, entrenched interests, and cynical views, but I focused solely on the citizens and lived up to their expectations."
He also said, "As governor of Gyeonggi Province, I expanded Seongnam's youth dividend into the Gyeonggi Youth Basic Income, and protected residents during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, I transformed the Democratic Party into a winning party, a party ready to govern, and a competent party."
He added, "Politics is about creating a path where none exists. Just as I did in Seongnam and Gyeonggi Province, now I will change the Republic of Korea. Please choose, through your vote, the 'people's tool' who can best realize your dreams and hopes."
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