▲ This composite file photo shows Rep. Jung Chung-rae (L), leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok. (Yonhap)

political parties-factory explosion

Political parties scale back campaigning after deadly factory explosion

SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties urged candidates in the upcoming local elections to scale back or tone down their campaign activities Monday following a deadly explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace factory in the central city of Daejeon.

At least five people were killed and two others injured in the explosion, which was reported at 10:59 a.m. in the city located some 140 kilometers south of Seoul.

Rep. Jung Chung-rae, leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), immediately instructed party candidates and election camps nationwide to suspend their campaign activities.

"DP leader Jung has urgently instructed all DP candidates and camps to halt campaigning and refrain from using campaign songs or dance performances following the Hanwha Aerospace factory accident in Daejeon," the party said in a press notice.

Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), called on candidates to tone down their campaigning and to avoid playing music or dancing during campaign rallies, according to the party's election committee.

"I pray for the souls of those who tragically lost their lives in the Hanwha Aerospace explosion and offer my sincere condolences to the bereaved families," he said in a Facebook post.

Rep. Jang also canceled campaign events that were scheduled for the day in Jeju and Ulsan, and returned to Seoul.

The PPP additionally urged the government to mobilize all available resources for the rescue operations.

Candidates in the Seoul mayoral race also adjusted their campaign schedules following the accident.

Chong Won-o, the DP's candidate for Seoul mayor, announced that he will temporarily halt his campaigning, while Oh Se-hoon, the PPP's candidate, decided to proceed with the campaign events for the day without any campaign songs.

The explosion came just two days before the June 3 local elections and less than a week after the collapse of an overpass in Seoul last Tuesday.

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