Kim Min-seok, the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, urges caution to Geoje Mayor Byeon Gwang-yong and others at the entrance of Okpo Community Welfare Center in Okpo-dong, Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, on Monday. [Yonhap]
Kim Min-seok, the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, urges caution to Geoje Mayor Byeon Gwang-yong and others at the entrance of Okpo Community Welfare Center in Okpo-dong, Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, on Monday. [Yonhap]

Kim Min-seok, the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, traveled to flood-stricken Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province on Monday, immediately after winning the party leadership.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, Kim described the scene in Geoje as "shocking," writing that his heart ached thinking about how frightened residents must have been by the unprecedented downpours and the chaotic evacuation. "I will also look after the psychological trauma," he added.

Kim said he had asked the government to do everything within its power and pledged that the party would do the same. "We will be the party that protects people's livelihoods from dawn to night," he wrote.

Kim traveled directly from Daejeon, where the Democratic Party's national convention was held Monday, to Geoje. He visited the Samdoroyal Mansion site in Okpo-dong, where casualties were reported, to assess the damage, and also stopped by a community welfare center being used as temporary housing for displaced residents.

On Tuesday, Kim is scheduled to pay his respects at the grave of former President Kim Dae-jung in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, marking the 17th anniversary of his death, and to attend a memorial ceremony. He will then visit the graves of provisional government figures at Hyochang Park in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and pay his respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province.

On Wednesday, Kim plans to hold a Supreme Council meeting in Busan and visit the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun at Bongha Village in Gimhae. After calling on Roh's widow, Kwon Yang-suk, he will travel to Yangsan to pay a visit to former President Moon Jae-in at Pyeongsan Village.


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