"Ontact vs Contact" Varied Public Sentiment Moves of Opposition Candidates During Seollal Holiday

"COVID-19 Crisis Suits Non-Face-to-Face Communication" v "Encouragement for Those Who Can't Rest Even During Seol"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Opposition candidates running in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election are planning various ways to communicate with citizens during the Lunar New Year holiday. With the extension of social distancing to level 2.5, a 'stay-at-home' Seol holiday scene is expected, and while some candidates will focus on 'non-face-to-face' communication using YouTube and SNS, others will continue face-to-face activities as usual.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 11th, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is volunteering for specimen collection at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight that day, there were 504 new domestic COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 82,434. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, will appear consecutively on YouTube broadcasts during the Seol holiday period. On the morning of the 11th, the day before Seol, after completing medical support at the Seoul Station Plaza screening clinic, Ahn is scheduled to appear on the economic YouTube channel 'Sinsa Imdang', which has 1.32 million subscribers. Then, at 9 a.m. on the 12th, he will appear on 'Kim Dong-gil TV', operated by Yonsei University Honorary Professor Kim Dong-gil, and at 9 p.m., on 'Yoo Jae-il', hosted by political commentator Yoo Jae-il.

People’s Party spokesperson Ahn Hye-jin explained, "While on-site activities are important during the COVID-19 crisis, we judged that non-face-to-face methods are necessary to communicate with more people," adding, "(Ahn leader) expressed willingness to appear on any channel without hesitation if invited."

Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who agreed to unify candidacy with Ahn, also plans to focus on non-face-to-face communication during the Seol holiday. A representative from Geum’s side said, "Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we thought non-face-to-face communication was appropriate for the Seol holiday," and "We plan to focus on online schedules such as SNS and Clubhouse (an audio-based chat app)."

Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, a candidate for the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral primary, is greeting market vendors during her visit to Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 10th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On the other hand, preliminary candidates from the People Power Party are focusing on on-site activities during the holiday. Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won will visit the Eunpyeong Fire Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 11th to check the COVID-19 response status. Na’s side explained, "We will focus on on-site activities during the Seol holiday," and "We plan to visit and encourage those who cannot rest during the holiday."

Former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan, a candidate for the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral primary, visited the Southern Employment Welfare Plus Center under the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office on the 9th to hear firsthand accounts from job search coordinators. Photo by the National Assembly Press Corps

Former People Power Party lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan also plans to hold a rice cake soup sharing event for North Korean defector youths in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 12th. A representative from Oh’s side said, "On Seol day, we will share rice cake soup with North Korean defector youths living in Seoul, listen to their difficulties living in Korea, and encourage them." In addition, former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Seocho District Mayor Cho Eun-hee are planning on-site visit schedules.

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