Hansen patient Kang Chang-mo said on the 27th, "Kim Moon-soo is the person who reached out to Hansen patients in the lowest places of the world," urging support.
Mr. Kang introduced himself as "a Hansen patient living in 'Daon Village'" during a speech broadcast through SBS at 6:31 p.m. that day.
He continued, "Hansen patients are the most despised people in the world," explaining the difficulties they faced, saying, "After the IMF crisis, we resolved our livelihoods by renting out buildings in the village to dye factories, but because they were unauthorized buildings, we faced constant complaints and had to serve prison time. There were even people who became repeat offenders, with 28 charges against them."
He added, "It was Kim Moon-soo, the then Governor of Gyeonggi Province, who listened to the stories of such Hansen patients until the end," noting, "Yeoncheon County, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, and the central government cooperated to resolve the issue of unauthorized buildings, and currently, Daon Village has become a well-established industrial complex in Cheongsan Daejeon."
He also recalled, "Governor Kim Moon-soo built a study facility called 'Happy Learning Center' in our village," adding, "He was genuinely happy when we worked hard to learn Hangul, and we cried like children while holding Kim Moon-soo's hand."
Mr. Kang repeatedly said, "For us 40,000 Hansen patients, Kim Moon-soo is an incredibly grateful person and a great benefactor."
He continued, "As soon as Kim Moon-soo's eight-year term as Governor of Gyeonggi Province ended, he rushed to the Hansen hospital in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, and Soro Island to volunteer for a month, wiping the wounds of severely ill Hansen patients, which hasn't happened since the late First Lady of President Park Chung-hee, Yuk Young-soo."
Mr. Kang added, "Kim Moon-soo has always been with the common people in the field and will be the same even if he becomes president."
He concluded his speech by explaining that 'Daon' in 'Daon Village' means 'good things come together,' stating, "Candidate Kim will be the person who creates a South Korea where 'good things come together.'"