Market Visits, Meal Service Volunteering, Working Moms Dialogue... Opposition Candidates Seek to Win Lunar New Year Public Sentiment

Listening to Small Business Owners' Difficulties in the Market
Volunteering to Serve Meals to Support Those in Need
Comforting Citizens Who Can't Rest Properly Even During Holidays

On the 8th, at the People Power Party Central Party Office in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, during the 'Seoul Mayor Candidate Media Day,' former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan (from left), former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, and Seocho District Mayor Cho Eun-hee are holding balls marked with their respective numbers and posing for a photo. (Photo by Asia Economy DB)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Opposition candidates for Seoul mayor are engaging in market visits, meal service volunteering, and conversations with working mothers on the 10th to win public support ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won and former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon are heading to Namdaemun Market on the day. Namdaemun Market is considered one of the largest and oldest traditional markets in Seoul. They will listen to the opinions of citizens shopping for the Lunar New Year holiday and the difficulties faced by self-employed business owners struggling due to COVID-19. Former lawmaker Na plans to purchase items needed for the Lunar New Year holiday at Namdaemun Market.

Before going to Namdaemun Market, former Mayor Oh will visit the Korea Christian Federation to meet Pastor Song Tae-seop. This follows his visits on the 8th to Jogye Order’s Monk Wonhaeng and Taego Order’s Monk Homyeong, signaling his intention to listen to voices from religious communities.

Former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan will participate in meal service volunteering at a free meal center for the homeless at Seoul Station. He explained, "I am going to support because the free meal center for the homeless has had its support cut off amid the difficulties caused by COVID-19," adding, "I will volunteer at Seoul Station to hear voices from the field."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, will have conversations with working mothers at a kids’ cafe to comfort citizens who cannot properly rest even during the Lunar New Year holiday. The purpose is to listen to the stories of working mothers struggling with childcare, housework, and work due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. At this event, Ahn will discuss work-family balance measures together with the working mothers. Working mothers of various age groups will attend this gathering.

Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop visited the flower wholesale market at the Express Bus Terminal at 7 a.m. that day. This was to understand and comfort the difficulties faced by flower market merchants who missed the peak seasons of graduation and entrance ceremonies due to COVID-19. Geum said, "I am visiting the most struggling small business owners," adding, "According to the flower market status, sales have decreased by about 30% compared to before COVID-19." At this event, Geum conveyed pledges for small business owners, including rent support.

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, and former independent lawmaker Geum Tae-seop met on the afternoon of the 4th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, to negotiate a unification method for the 'third zone' and shook hands. (Photo by Yonhap News)

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