Earn the Public Mandate

If you attend the traditional family-gathering during the Korean holiday, Chuseok, you can read both the public sentiments and the political atmosphere. Media experts say it forms public opinions and has an impact on politics. That is why politicians and parties are so sensitive about the so-called Chuseok sentiment. Presidential hopefuls across the political spectrum plan to win public sentiment during the holiday by visiting child-rearing centers, tutoring, and political initiatives. Lee Myung-bak, the former Seoul mayor, toured Seoul metro construction sites and Cheonggyecheon on Oct. 2 and 3 and plans to visit the Moran traditional market in Seongnam to read the public and consumer sentiments.

He already visited his hometown, Pohang in Gyeongbuk last week. He is visiting his parents’ graves and is preparing for his Europe visit scheduled for October 22. He will meet some advisory groups to learn while getting some rest during the holiday. Actually, he was scheduled to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and do the “Energy Vision Exploration,” but it was delayed due to local situations.

It is understood that Park Geun-hye, the former leader of the Grand National Party, is focusing on developing policy frameworks while taking some break from her 10-day visit to Belgium and Germany. She plans to advance her presidential promises in detail such as a multinational security system, support for small business and job creation, and the resolution of North Korean nuclear issues. She will meet with professionals in security and economic areas and visit the National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, Seoul, with her younger brother and his wife as usual.

Go Kun, the former prime minister, will visit nursing centers in Gugi-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul and childcare centers for the poor (Samdong Boys Center) in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, during the holiday. Since he first supported the Samdong Center in the late 1980s, he has visited there on every traditional holiday.

It is thought that he will visit his father’s (Dr. Goh Hyeong-geun) grave during Chuseok and will meet experts and politicians to learn their opinions on the future political direction.

Sohn Hak-gyu, the former Gyeonggi governor, continues his 100-day marathon on public sentiment during the holiday. He goes to Ulleungdo on October 5 and spends a night there and then goes to Dokdo on October 6 to encourage the guard police and demonstrate his determination to safeguard our territory. His final schedule is to finish at Seoul on October 9 with a stop in Yangsan and Busan on October 7 and 8 respectively.

Kim Geun-tae, the leader of the Uri Party, has no schedule in order to recover his long -accumulated fatigue since his inauguration and rearrange policies.

Jeong Dong-yeong, the former leader of the Uri Party, will spend his holiday in his hometown, Gurim-myeon, Sunchang, Jeonbuk. He plans to meet local elites including his high school alumni. He will stay in and out of Jeonju and Gwangju by the end of this month and do a so-called “Jeong-joong-dong.”