Following the explosion at Hanwha Aerospace's Daejeon plant, leaders of South Korea's rival parties have ordered an immediate halt or scaling-back of campaign activities for the June 3 local elections.
According to the Democratic Party of Korea on the 1st, Chairman Jung Chung-rae issued an emergency directive to candidates and campaigns nationwide immediately after the accident at Hanwha Aerospace in Daejeon, banning the use of campaign theme songs and choreographed dances. He soon followed with another order telling all candidates across the country to "halt campaign rallies."
Democratic Party candidates nationwide accordingly canceled or scaled back their scheduled public campaign events. Chairman Jung also canceled all his scheduled public campaign appearances, saying he would only attend internal events such as visits to some candidates' campaign offices. Floor Leader Han Byung-do likewise canceled his campaign schedule except for joint meetings with some candidates in North Chungcheong Province and visits to campaign offices.
The People Power Party did not fully suspend its campaign schedule but urged candidates nationwide to proceed in a subdued atmosphere. Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk issued an emergency directive to candidates nationwide, saying, "Refrain from using theme songs and choreographed dances, and conduct campaigning in a quiet manner." Chairman Jang and Floor Leader Song Eon-seok plan to cancel all scheduled public events and monitor developments.
The Rebuilding Korea Party and the New Reform Party also issued emergency directives instructing candidates nationwide to refrain from using campaign theme songs and choreographed dances.
Leaders of both ruling and opposition parties called for swift handling of the accident along with minimized campaigning, and offered condolences to the bereaved families. At a campaign event supporting a candidate in North Chungcheong Province where he was attending when news of the accident broke, Chairman Jung said, "Lives are hanging in the balance amid the flames — we cannot continue campaigning as usual," adding, "The Democratic Party will take all necessary measures to ensure such incidents do not happen again."
In a message posted on Facebook, Chairman Jang said, "I pray for the souls of those who tragically lost their lives in the accident and extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," urging that "the government do its utmost to swiftly resolve the accident and restore damage." He added, "The People Power Party will spare no effort in providing necessary support."
Meanwhile, the explosion that occurred Thursday morning at Hanwha Aerospace's Daejeon plant in Oesam-dong, Yuseong-gu, has so far left four dead and two injured. Police and fire authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.
