DP’s Lee holds rally in his Nat'l Assembly constituency; unveils pet-friendly pledges

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min.

With the presidential election less than two weeks to go, the Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung sought voters' support in the city of Incheon, the home of his National Assembly constituency, which is significant for him in more than one way.

Our correspondent Shin Ha-young explains.

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has continued his campaign in the greater Seoul metropolitan area for the third consecutive day, this time in the city of Incheon.

"The sea takes in both murky and clean water isn't that the spirit of unity in Incheon? Winning in Incheon is what makes it a true victory. Will you help make that happen?"

"Incheon holds special significance for Lee Jae-myung, as it was a stepping stone in his political comeback after narrowly losing to former President Yoon Suk Yeol in the 2022 presidential election."

During his Wednesday rallies, Lee visited Gyeyang-gu District, the constituency he represents in the National Assembly.

Following the previous presidential election, Lee won a by-election in Gyeyang-gu and was re-elected in last year's general election.

Lee thanked the people of Gyeyang-gu for supporting his comeback.

He aimed to win votes by sharing his economic vision for Incheon, a global gateway city with an airport and port, focusing on logistics and the bio-industry.

Ahead of Wednesday's rally, Lee also laid out pet-friendly policy pledges.

In a social media post, he promised to enact a so-called Basic Animal Welfare Act and work to create a government agency dedicated to promoting animal welfare.

Lee also pledged to reduce pet care costs, especially for veterinary services, by setting standard fees and promoting the expansion of pet insurance.

He also addressed the issue of stray cats.

"Since more than 25 percent of people have pets, we need appropriate policies for them. On issues like stray cats, where opinions differ, we should find ways to coexist without causing problems for others."

Additionally, Lee pledged to prevent animal abuse and abandonment by introducing a policy that bans offenders from owning animals for a set period.

Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.