Campaigning becomes pain in the neck
(From left) Kim Moo-sung, Kim Jong-in and Ahn Chul-soo / Yonhap
By Ko Dong-hwan
Candidates for the April 13 general election are busy campaigning, as are the leaders of the three major parties. But the leaders’ efforts have been so relentless they are suffering strained throats due to frequent public speeches.
And without time to put their feet up as poll day looms, they are resorting to emergency treatment.
Ruling Saenuri Party chairman Kim Moo-sung is one of them. Kim, who is standing for the Jung and Yeongdo districts in Busan, reportedly sought treatment from a medical specialist Monday because of a throat problem. He had been campaigning in cities in South Gyeongsang Province, according to the Chosun Ilbo, and continued his street campaign the following day in Daejeon, Cheongju and Sejong.
In Daejeon, Kim pardoned himself in front the crowd, saying: “My throat has gone hoarse; can you hear me at the back?”
Kim’s campaign staff said the candidate is “frequently drinking water in his car to soothe his distressed vocal cords.”
People’s Party co-chairman Ahn Chul-soo, who is standing in Nowon C district, Seoul, had trouble giving a speech Tuesday in the city of Uijeongbu because of a hoarse throat. A party associate said the technocrat from security software provider AhnLab always carried the medicine Yong Gak San to soothe his throat.
Kim Jong-in, the interim head of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) and the party’s No.2 proportional representation candidate, also pushed through his campaign despite a worsening throat condition. Kim, oldest among the three leaders at 76, was seen coughing many times during campaign speeches in areas in Chungcheong Province, Tuesday.
“He hasn’t recovered from his recent cold yet,” a party insider said. “He eats a lot of Lotte Confectionary’s Throat Candy in his car.”
The MPK leader’s wife, an emeritus professor who teaches nutritional science at Ewha Woman’s University, reportedly cooked him special meals for his throat.