Minsheng Party and Ahn Cheol-soo Head to Honam from Day One... The Dream of 'Again 2016'

Son Hak-kyu: "Minsaeng Party, Please Protect the Citizens of Gwangju"
Ahn Cheol-soo Begins Running in Yeosu, Jeonnam

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The Minsheng Party and the People’s Party, both advocating for the third political zone, chose to head to Honam on the first day of the official election campaign for the April 15 general election. Both parties are visiting Honam to solidify their support base. Starting from Honam, they are dreaming of a 'second green wave.'

At midnight on the same day, the Minsheng Party held a launch ceremony for the 'Only Livelihood' election countermeasures committee at the Garak Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Afterwards, Son Hak-gyu, the standing election committee chairman of the Minsheng Party, and Kim Jeong-hwa, the co-chair of the Minsheng Party’s election committee, took an early morning train to Gwangju. They began their full-scale election campaign by paying respects at the Gwangju May 18 Democratic Cemetery. A Minsheng Party official said, “The Garak-dong market literally means we are taking care of the livelihood,” adding, “(Regarding the Gwangju schedule) the wind has to blow in Honam for this to rise (to the metropolitan area).”

Chairman Son emphasized, “Gwangju is the birthplace of democracy in the Republic of Korea. Our Minsheng Party will uphold the spirit of May in Gwangju to end the confrontational politics of the two major parties and achieve coalition politics with multiple parties,” and added, “In the last general election, Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk firmly established the position of the third party to end the extreme politics of the two major parties.” He continued, “Now, the Minsheng Party will make our country’s politics one of harmony, coalition, and work,” and requested, “We ask the citizens of Gwangju to firmly protect and support (the Minsheng Party).”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo effectively began the general election race on the 1st. On the afternoon of the same day, Ahn started the nationwide relay “Run of Hope and Trust” in Yeosu, Jeonnam. From that day, he will travel about 30 km daily from Yeosu to the metropolitan area with themes such as overcoming national crises, technology and innovation through smart farms and startups, resolving regional sentiments and integration, government reform, and politics of promises.

A People’s Party official explained, “The intention is to build momentum from Honam and move up (to the metropolitan area),” adding, “(After Ahn returned,) he apologized in Honam and said he would return to his original intention and take one step at a time.”

Meanwhile, on the 2nd, Ahn criticized the government and ruling party’s move to issue bearer bonds on Twitter, saying, “Both ruling and opposition parties should unite for COVID-19, but I really think bearer bonds are unacceptable,” and added, “Bearer bonds mean money without a tag. It allows money laundering because you cannot know whose money it is.”

Ahn said, “Large-scale financial fraud cases such as ShillaJen and Lime Asset Management, which occurred under this administration, are under investigation. If this is allowed now, all the money earned from large-scale financial fraud that caused ordinary people to shed tears can be laundered,” and stated, “This means the government is leading efforts to help people who want to do illegal gifts, illegal inheritance, and criminals launder their money.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.