'Bonjin' Gyeonggi Landing Lee "The Most Governor-like Lee Jae-myung, Will Become the Most President-like President"

Lee, at Hwaseong Campaign Rally, "I will take off my mask a bit... Staff, please maintain 2m social distancing"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Ki-min Lee and Myung-hwan Lee] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 19th, "When someone was the mayor of Seongnam, Lee Jae-myung was like a mayor. As governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee Jae-myung was like a governor. As president of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae-myung will be the most presidential."

After concluding a two-day campaign in Honam, Lee came up to Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and said, "The population of the Republic of Korea is more than a quarter of Gyeonggi Province's population. If Gyeonggi Province decides, the Republic of Korea decides," appealing for support.

Although Lee always wore a mask when stepping onto the campaign stage after the official election campaign began, at the Hwaseong rally he said, "I also feel suffocated, so I will take off my mask. Camera operators and sign language interpreters, please keep a 2-meter distance from now on," and spoke without a mask for the first time.

He continued, "We must follow even small rules well to be able to follow big rules well. A world where agreed-upon rules are kept and no one loses out by following rules is a good world. Lee Jae-myung has followed the rules," targeting Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, who recently took off his mask on the campaign stage where people were standing.

He added, "When Shincheonji in Gyeonggi Province became a problem, I raided Gwacheon to get the list, closed all facilities, and even raided Gapyeong to make the cult leader Lee Man-hee face investigation," and asked, "Isn't this the true leadership to overcome a crisis? Who will you entrust the future of this country to?"

This appeared to be a statement implying that he is more suitable as president than candidate Yoon, in relation to allegations that Yoon covered up the Shincheonji raid after listening to the shaman Geonjin Beopsa.

He also pointed out stock price manipulation as the reason for the undervaluation of Korean stocks, saying, "Some people manipulate stock prices and continue thanks to powerful people, speculate on real estate, and commit illegal acts," raising the level of criticism against candidate Yoon by asking, "Would you forgive such people?"

He further criticized, "Deploying THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) unnecessarily scares people, which might win votes, but the country becomes a mess and stock prices fall. The Cheongung-2, a low-altitude missile defense system, is the best in the world and was exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for 4 trillion won," and said, "I don't understand the unnecessary installation of a high-altitude missile defense system."

Lee also said, "Looking at the sunrise on March 10, there are two feelings. One is, 'Oh no, this is serious, maybe political retaliation is starting, the prosecution's country is beginning, a prosecution dictatorship worse than military dictatorship is starting, now even gathering with candles will lead to judicial punishment,' which could be a day of worry," and then said, "A new country begins, hope begins, a country full of opportunities begins," criticizing candidate Yoon and appealing for votes for himself.

He listed his achievements as governor of Gyeonggi Province, including valley maintenance projects, elimination of illegal private loans, construction of an artificial surfing site in Siheung, and attracting 130 trillion won in investment to Gyeonggi Province, emphasizing, "I made Gyeonggi Province the best province in the country in just three years, and thanks to that, I am standing here. If you entrust me with running the Republic of Korea, I will repay you with a completely different, more competent government, a hopeful country where tomorrow is more anticipated than today."

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