Political Leaders Engage with Public Ahead of Chuseok Holiday

On September 23, the leaders of South Korea's ruling and opposition parties increased their outreach to the public as they sought to gauge sentiment ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

Kim Min-seok, the leader of the Democratic Party, and Han Byeong-do, the party's floor leader, visited Yongsan Station in Seoul on the morning of the 23rd to greet citizens heading home for the holiday. Kim engaged with travelers, asking, "Where are you going?" and wishing them a pleasant holiday. He was also seen taking selfies with some of the citizens.

In the afternoon, Kim visited a military base in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, to encourage the soldiers. He toured their living quarters and examined various weapon systems, including the Cheongung medium-range surface-to-air missile and the Cheonho wheeled anti-aircraft gun.

After the visit, Kim stated, "Protecting the sky and space, as well as the borders of the capital region, is essential, and maintaining the pride of South Korea is another layer of that protection. It’s not just about safeguarding the present; from a defense industry perspective, it’s about securing the future as well."

During a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, the Democratic Party leadership emphasized their commitment to addressing livelihood issues. Kim remarked, "It is fortunate that prices for Chuseok are relatively stable, with a decrease in grocery costs, but we will remain mindful of concerns regarding certain items and the overall economic sentiment. We will reflect on the reason for the Democratic Party's existence, which is to protect the middle class, the underprivileged, and the socially vulnerable, and we will focus entirely on livelihood issues."

The leadership of the People Power Party also engaged in volunteer activities to support vulnerable communities. Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, along with policy chair Im I-ja and secretary general Jeong Hee-yong, visited a youth facility in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, where they made traditional rice cakes called songpyeon with young volunteers and shared a meal.

Jang told the youth, "During my time as a family court judge, I made many commitments while working with young people. I will use this visit as an opportunity to revive those commitments and promises." He added, "Our society must show more care and support to help young people grow as members of society."

Floor leader Jeong Jeong-sik visited a goshiwon (a type of low-cost housing) in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, where he distributed food items such as rice, seaweed soup, and ramen to residents. After hearing that residents wanted to expand their container housing, Jeong stated, "I will work with the Seoul city government, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) to find ways for more people to live in container houses."