Lee Jae-myung Helps Elderly Collecting Recyclables, Saying "My Heart Aches... I Will Create a Country Where They Can Spend a Happy Old Age"

"A country has grown prosperous, but it seems like a glimpse of a society where citizens do not live as well"
"If the elderly are in poverty, the middle-aged lose comfort and the youth lose hope"
"We will repay the dedication of the elders by making a country where life tomorrow can be viewed positively"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 25th, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "When I see elderly people picking up scrap paper in various parts of the city, I often feel heartache as it seems to reflect a facet of our society where, despite the country's prosperity, the people are not living well enough," adding, "Creating a country where people can enjoy a happy old age is a task for all of our future."

Photo by Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate's Facebook

That afternoon, Candidate Lee shared several photos on Facebook of himself helping elderly people pick up scrap paper over the past weekend, expressing these thoughts.

He recalled, "No manual labor is easy, but working outside in the dead of winter is especially tough," and added, "It was a day when the temperature dropped sharply before 5 p.m., and I was worried about the health of the elderly."

He pointed out, "Economic development and South Korea's dream of becoming one of the world's top five powers would have been impossible without the hard work of the elderly," but noted, "However, when asked whether the state is providing appropriate treatment in return, it is difficult to answer confidently in reality."

Candidate Lee said, "Our lives within the community are all connected," and explained, "If the elderly live in poverty, the middle-aged lose their comfort, and the youth lose hope. Young people see their own future through the lives of the elderly."

He emphasized, "That is why creating a country where the elderly can live healthy and happy lives is a task for all of our future," and stressed, "We will repay the dedication of the elderly by building a country where both the youth and the elderly can look positively toward tomorrow."

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