Lee Jae-myung Mentioning 'Shincheonji' in Daegu Targets Yoon: "Afraid of Cult and Sorcery Group"

"With Minimal Governor's Quarantine Authority, Gyeonggi-do Secures List from Shincheonji Headquarters... Leading Quarantine Efforts" Self-Praise
"Will Implement Emergency Financial Orders to Release Over 50 Trillion Won for COVID-19 Loss Compensation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon, Busan·Daegu=Reporter Lee Ki-min] On the first day of the official presidential election campaign on the 15th, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Daegu and comforted the citizens by saying, "In the early days of COVID-19, how heartbreaking it was when the citizens of Daegu suffered tremendous hardships and their beloved family members could not receive proper treatment and passed away," emphasizing, "No matter the situation, if the leader clearly presents the path and the people trust and follow the leader with unity and cooperation, we can overcome the crisis no matter what."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

That afternoon, at a campaign rally held in Daegu Dongseong-ro, Candidate Lee said, "If the state had properly exercised the authority entrusted to it, if it had swiftly seized and searched the list when Shincheonji spread COVID-19 and was uncooperative with quarantine measures, and had taken proper quarantine actions, even one less victim could have been saved."

This remark is interpreted as targeting Yoon Seok-youl, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party and then Prosecutor General, who rejected the search warrant for Shincheonji during the early group infection outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.

Candidate Lee stated, "When no politician wanted to confront the religious and shamanistic group for fear of their political retaliation, I risked my political life and tried to do what a governor should do," adding, "With the meager quarantine authority of a governor, I entered the Shincheonji headquarters, secured the list, closed the facilities, and even went directly to the lavish residence of the leader Lee Man-hee to enforce testing."

He continued, "Gyeonggi Province was a pioneer in quarantine," and stressed, "Just as Gyeonggi Province created a new model for quarantine, the COVID-19 crisis should be shifted to policies that restore citizens' daily lives by focusing on managing severe patients through flexible and smart quarantine policies."

He also said, "Special sacrifices require special compensation," and promised, "If I become president, I will implement an emergency financial order to release more than 50 trillion won to compensate for all losses caused by COVID-19."

Furthermore, as he did in his speech earlier that morning in front of Busan Bujeon Station, Candidate Lee reiterated his emphasis on being a unifying and economic president.

He said, "If a policy is good, I do not discriminate whether it is Kim Dae-jung's policy, Park Chung-hee's policy, left-wing or right-wing. I have used necessary policies without regard to political camps if they are needed to improve the lives of the people," and firmly stated, "If you entrust me with your future, I will surely revive the economy with proven capability."

Along with this, he presented regional pledges to Daegu voters, saying, "We will restore the past glory of Daegu Seongseo Industrial Complex (Seongseo Industrial Complex Management Corporation), and it is time for the highway passing through downtown Daegu to go underground," and "Since it has been decided to relocate Daegu Airport, we will support it firmly so that Daegu can once again become the heart of South Korea's economic development by swiftly relocating it with government financial support."

He appealed to his supporters, saying, "Please give me a chance for Daegu·Gyeongbuk, for this country, for a balanced development nation, and for a true democratic republic."

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