Political party leaders cheer up public sentiment ahead of Lunar New Yeaer`s holidays

Political party leaders visited ordinary citizens` workplaces and underprivileged people Tuesday to study the public sentiment ahead of the Lunar New Year`s holidays.

Kim Moo-sung, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, invited cleaning crew members of the National Assembly to have traditional rice cake soup with them. "I appreciate your hard work every time I see you but never had a chance to say `thank you,`" he told the workers. "I would like to extend my gratitude to you over a bowl of hot rice cake soup ahead of the Lunar New Year`s holidays."

Yoo Seung-Min, the Saenuri`s floor leader, met with the bereaved families of the victims of the sunken ferry Sewol Tuesday morning, followed by a visit to the incense-burning altar for the victims. The ruling party decided not to visit Seoul Station to greet citizens leaving for their hometowns for the holidays in order to avoid causing inconvenience to them and merchants in the area.

Moon Jae-in, chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), and the party`s floor leader Woo Yoon-keun visited Yongsan Station, where trains bound for destinations in the Jeolla provinces depart, to greet passengers. Citing the economic slump, Moon expressed hope that citizens will spend good times with their families and relatives on the holidays. Pointing at people lining up to shake hands with Moon, an NPAD official said that few people were complaining about the crowded place because of heightened public recognition of Moon.

Moon also visited a fire station and a police substation in Seoul to cheer up officers on duty and ask them to ensure safety during the holidays, before serving food at a nursing home.