Opposition Leader Visits Drought Area Amid Heatwave; Staff Hold Board in Heat

During a visit to drought-stricken areas in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, on a scorching day with temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk was met with a scene that drew criticism. As officials from the Korea Rural Community Corporation briefed Jang on the drought situation at the Ungdong Reservoir, two staff members were photographed crouching behind a presentation board, holding it steady for the delegation.

The image, captured on August 14, quickly circulated, sparking debate about the appropriateness of the situation given the extreme heat and the apparent lack of proper equipment to support the display. Jang was accompanied by other party officials, including lawmakers Park Sang-woong and Lee Jong-wook, during his visit to assess the drought's impact.

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I know very well the heartache of our elderly farmers whose hearts crack and burn as the land cracks and crops wither from drought.

Following the site visit, Jang attended a community meeting at a local senior center. He expressed empathy for the farmers suffering from the drought, stating, "I know very well the heartache of our elderly farmers whose hearts crack and burn as the land cracks and crops wither from drought." He pledged to work in the National Assembly to ensure swift relief measures and a comprehensive plan to address the drought-related damages.

Jang also vowed to pursue the declaration of a disaster state for the affected regions, referencing a similar declaration made for Gangneung during a severe drought last year. He stated his intention to consult with the government to facilitate this declaration, aiming to provide substantial support to the drought-stricken communities.

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I will work in the National Assembly to ensure that measures are taken quickly to resolve the damage caused by the drought and to establish countermeasures.