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| Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn shakes hands with a resident in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, while supporting a candidate from the party for a by-election in this March 24, 2019 photo. Although a handshake is the traditional way for politicians to express friendliness to voters, candidates for the April 15 general election are now avoiding it due to public concerns over the spread of the virus. / Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
The recent coronavirus outbreak is affecting candidates' campaigning for the April 15 general election, as voters are reluctant to visit congested places and are avoiding physical contact with others, both of which are common practices on the campaign trail.
The coronavirus, originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has killed more than 170 people and infected nearly 8,000 solely in China so far. The virus is transmissible via airborne particles or physical contact. Korea has reported six confirmed cases.
In that respect, candidates are refraining from launching campaigns and postponing the opening of campaign offices until as late as possible.
Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, who plans to run in central Seoul's Jongno District and co-heads the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) election preparation committee, is reviewing whether to attend the opening ceremony of the campaign office for Lee Yong-sun, a former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs who plans to run for a National Assembly seat representing Yangcheon District in western Seoul.
The former prime minister planned to attend the ceremony to show the party's support for Lee, but concerns have risen that his attendance could draw a lot more people and raise the chance of the virus spreading.
Many candidates across the country have postponed ceremonies to launch their campaign offices.
Lee Hae-sik, a DPK spokesman who plans to run in Gangdong District, eastern Seoul, was initially set to open his office Feb. 1, but he recently postponed this indefinitely.
"Although there have been no confirmed cases in the local community, I made the decision out of concerns that many people would gather in a small area," he said.
Candidates commonly meet residents at crowded places such as traditional markets or subway stations and shake hands with them, but there is an unwillingness on the part of everybody to shake hands due to the fact that the virus can spread through direct human contact.
"A handshake is a tool for expressing a sense of closeness, but many do not want to shake hands," Rep. Kim Jong-min of the DPK said.
Back hye-ryun, another DPK lawmaker, said on Facebook, "I am hesitant about visiting a senior citizen centers for New Year greetings due to the coronavirus."
Due to growing concerns over public health, the ruling party plans to come up with guidelines for its candidates to campaign without triggering fears over infection.
Rep. Shin Bo-ra of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) said she would use placards on the streets instead of having close contact with residents.
"Rather than extending a handshake, I plan to appeal to voters with placards. Such a campaign may work more effectively," she said.
Local events which candidates typically take advantage of for electioneering are also being canceled.
Kim Hyun-ah, another LKP lawmaker who plans to run in a district in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, said, "A monthly meeting of the local community was called off, so I couldn't attend the event."
