Nam Kyung-pil "Establish Safety Bureau" vs Kim Jin-pyo "Safe Gyeonggi Province"

Saenuri Party Gyeonggi Province gubernatorial candidate Nam Kyung-pil and New Politics Alliance Democratic United Party candidate Kim Jin-pyo competed for "safety" voters on the 21st by conducting building safety inspections and fire safety experience programs at traditional markets.

The candidates launched these initiatives to emphasize safety as public interest in safety issues increased in the province following the Sewol ferry disaster.

Saenuri candidate Nam visited Jungang Market in Taepyeong 1-dong, Seongnam City, a facility designated as having disaster risk, starting at 10:30 a.m. and inspected building safety conditions on site.

At the venue, he stated his commitment to "establish a 'Safety Bureau' within the provincial government to support the demolition and repair of disaster-risk facilities." Disaster-risk facilities are those that received D (emergency repair/reinforcement) or E (demolition required) grades in safety assessments. In Gyeonggi Province, 141 disaster-risk facilities received such grades: 138 with D-grade and 3 with E-grade.

In the afternoon, candidate Nam held a meeting at the Gyeonggi Province Automobile Inspection Maintenance Business Cooperative in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon.

Candidate Nam initially planned to visit Geumjeong Station in Gunpo, where an electric insulator explosion accident occurred in an electric train (19th), but redirected to a "sector-by-sector" safety tour.

A representative of Nam's camp said, "During the election campaign, we will inspect sector-specific safety measures in construction, firefighting, and electricity and present alternatives to residents."

Nam previously announced a "Life Safety Network Construction Plan" on the 30th of last month, which included establishing a field-oriented Gyeonggi Province disaster safety headquarters, installing a War Game disaster safety center, and building a big data disaster safety center.

New Politics Alliance Democratic United Party candidate Kim held a safety experience program at Gunpo Fire Station immediately after concluding his campaign committee meeting.

Candidate Kim received CPR training and delivered a message regarding safety measures.

Candidate Kim said, "South Korea must be different before and after the Sewol disaster" and "it must become a world that values people and lives." He also stated, "I will transform Ansan into a city of healing and hope" and "will create a safe Gyeonggi Province."

Candidate Kim previously announced a "Safe Community, Secure Society Manifesto." He pledged to introduce a "Gyeonggi Province Disaster Risk Assessment System," prioritize five high-risk disaster sectors within six months of taking office, and reorganize emergency response, rescue, and recovery systems.

He also made pledges including conducting civil defense drills quarterly, expanding Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), creating safe neighborhoods, and establishing crime prevention systems for single-woman households.