Accompanying Coverage Yom Tae-young visits memorial for former President Roh on first anniversary… refrains from broadcast campaigning and campaign songs

“We will reduce budget related to ‘concrete’ projects and increase budget to create a world where ‘people’ can thrive.” At 6:30 p.m. on the 22nd, at the intersection in front of Homplus in North Suwon, where a campaign banner reading ‘People are welcome’ by Democratic Party candidate Yom Tae-young was hung. With key figures from Yom Tae-young's campaign committee and candidate provincial and city council members from the region mobilized, the area was filled with supporters and citizens despite the rain.

Rep. Lee Chan-yeol (Jangan), who took to the campaign trail in support, said, “Jangan-gu, where the Democratic Party won in last year's by-election, holds symbolic significance,” and urged, “The victory reflects the generational change desired by Jangan-gu residents, their wish to hold the MB administration accountable, and citizens' demands for new politics and communication-based politics. Please elect candidate Yom Tae-young as mayor to accelerate those aspirations in this election.”

Moreover, Kim Jin-pyo, the Supreme Council member serving as co-chair of the campaign committee, and Shin Jang-yong, deputy spokesperson, proposed to voters, “Let us elect Yu Si-min, the unified opposition candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor, and candidate Yom Tae-young as governor to correct the arrogant and arbitrary conduct of the MB administration.” Citizens gathered at the venue showed interest in candidate Yom's pledge regarding how to secure budget for eco-friendly free school meals and their feasibility. In response, candidate Yom stated, “Even if we provide free school meals to approximately 137,000 students at 130 elementary and middle schools in Suwon, the annual budget required is 56.5 billion won, which accounts for only 3.7% of the total budget,” and emphasized, “Free school meals are a matter of political will, not a budgetary issue.”

Candidate Yom also pledged to establish a general hospital in partnership with Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine to improve medical benefits in Western and Northern Suwon areas. In particular, he pointed out that although the area around Jangan-gu Office is a hub in Northern Suwon, transportation infrastructure such as metropolitan railways has not improved, and presented measures to address this.

Candidate Yom stated, “While extending the Shinbundang Line and taking 1 trillion won in traffic contribution fees from Gwanggyo New City, benefits are directed only to Yongin and Bundang, providing no help to Suwon,” and emphasized, “I will ensure that areas suffering development damage are not left behind by utilizing this contribution fee in our region.” He also pledged to abolish tolls on the Uiwang-Gwacheon Expressway, which causes constant traffic congestion.

Saying “Suwon, the planned city founded by King Jeongjo, has stagnated and aged,” he promised, “I will realize the unrealized reform dreams of King Jeongjo and the dreams of Suwon citizens,” and added, “No matter the harsh north wind or heavy rain and wind, I will overcome and achieve the development of stagnant Suwon.”

In the evening, candidate Yom visited the civic memorial for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun set up in front of Suwon Station and paid respects jointly with Supreme Council member Kim Jin-pyo and Democratic Party candidates in the Suwon area. Candidate Yom said, “If I was influenced by the late former President Kim Dae-jung politically, then former President Roh was a comrade who shared my ideals.” To honor the great ideals of former President Roh, whom he called ‘the president in my heart who dreamed of a world where people thrive,’ candidate Yom decided to refrain from broadcast campaigning and campaign songs for just one day on the 23rd.