'Exactly one year since presidential election win — I feel just as desperate and urgent'
Kospi topping 8,800 and $700 billion in exports cited as economic achievements
Han Byung-do, co-chair of the Democratic Party of Korea's joint standing campaign committee, appealed for overwhelming voter support for the party's candidates on Tuesday, the eve of the June 3 local elections, urging the public to "vote for a capable Lee Jae Myung government, a competent Democratic Party, and a great leap forward for our economy."
Speaking at a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly that day, Han said, "I am reminded of exactly one year ago, when we gave everything to elect President Lee Jae Myung. I feel just as desperate and urgent now as I did then."
Han framed the local elections as both a completion of national normalization and a verdict on what he called incompetent local administrations of the past. "Last year's presidential election was the most desperate election we have ever fought — to end the insurrection, restore democracy and defend the constitutional order," he said. "These local elections are the starting point for South Korea's great leap forward and for building a country where every region can thrive." He then turned his fire on the opposition, saying, "We cannot leave in place the incompetent and irresponsible local governments that rode in on Yoon Suk Yeol's coattails four years ago and ruined their regions. They must be held accountable."
Han went on to call for full-throated public support to sustain the government's momentum. "The Lee Jae Myung government must succeed, and the engine of governance must be firmly backed," he said, appealing to voters to use their ballots to "complete the success of the Lee Jae Myung government." He also urged those who had already cast early votes to call family members, friends and acquaintances and encourage them to participate, adding that the Democratic Party would "maintain a humble and modest posture until the very end of election day on Tuesday."
Han also highlighted major economic indicators to reinforce the case for backing the government, pointing to the Kospi surpassing the 8,800 mark and last year's exports reaching $700 billion. "One by one, the building blocks of South Korea's great leap forward are being put in place alongside the capable Lee Jae Myung government," he said. "South Korea is clearly moving forward. The party, the government and the presidential office will do their utmost to ensure the fruits of economic recovery are shared equally by all our people."
sunpine@heraldcorp.com
