Political Report

June 4 is Election Day here in South Korea. The campaigns are in full swing and signs and volunteers are everywhere. Hye-Jeong has even been receiving robocalls.

This candidate's wife was greeting churchgoers on Sunday morning, with someone from the opposite party right there to make the case for his candidate.

These two were happy to pose for a photo.

And here's some additional signage:

This is a city-sponsored sign asking people to please refrain from removing the campaign posters.

These volunteers were bowing to cars and passersby.

Today's English-language paper published an interview with a candidate from the province that is home to Ansan City, the home of most of the high school students that lost their lives in the tragic Sewol ferry accident.  In his interview, he comments that while the current government labeled Ansan City a disaster zone, he would change the designation to "City of Hope" and create new services to address social issues related to the tragedy.

You can read more here:

http://mengnews.joins.com/view.aspx?gCat=030&aId=2989780

The owner of the operating company of the Sewol ferry is in hiding and the local papers have updates on efforts to "smoke him out," and his cronies, members of his "cult". I knew there were serious government actions being taken, but had no idea it was this dramatic.

It's hard to imagine that many students, children, gone from one place. I believe the last count of lives lost was 288.  

So, this leads me to tell you our trip within a trip was to Jeju Island, the destination of that ferry and of those schoolkids and other ferry passengers. In fact, my cousin's son was on school trip to Jeju, via ferry, and returned home just before the ferry accident.  I know for many of you, you've only just heard of Jeju Island after the accident in April.

We flew from Seoul, via Korean Air. Despite the short distance, just 273 miles, Korean Air operates 747s to Jeju~no puddle jumpers here. It is a 50-minute flight.

High school trips to Jeju have now been forbidden by the government. And, the sinking of the ferry not only diminished tourism to Jeju, but slowed the entire economy in South Korea. Another story in the paper today comments on the slow pace of retail sales in the weeks following the sinking of the ship.

The Sewol and the government response have now become a major part of this year's election debates.

But, for a few days we put down our papers and went to Jeju to explore. A full-report coming soon.