One Day Before May 18... Ruling Party's Potential Leaders Head to Honam Together

5·18 41st Anniversary Garden Visit
Lee Jae-myung Hosts Basic Income Meeting
Lee Nak-yeon and Chung Sye-kyun Listen to Local Sentiment
Park Yong-jin Holds Youth Meeting

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the 17th, a day before the 41st anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement, presidential hopefuls from the ruling party all gathered in Honam to solidify their stronghold.

Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung is delivering a welcome speech at the Gyeonggi Province 'Non-residential Real Estate Fair Taxation Implementation National Assembly Forum' held on the 12th at the Glad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung has been visiting Honam since the day before for a 1-night, 2-day schedule to hold a meeting related to basic income. This is effectively a venue to reveal his presidential ambitions. Although Lee, who is from Yeongnam, is evaluated to have a weak political base in Honam, he has continued to gain momentum based on his high nationwide approval ratings in polls. On the 18th, Lee will visit the May 18 Memorial Cemetery in Gwangju.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Presidential candidates with a base in Honam are showing even more enthusiasm in solidifying their stronghold. Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon has been touring Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk since the 13th to listen to public sentiment. On the 16th, he made the ‘Gwangju Declaration’ at the Democratic Party’s Gwangju Metropolitan City branch, effectively declaring his presidential candidacy in Honam. At this event, Lee apologized regarding the pardon issue, saying, "I apologize for not fully understanding the will of the people and the spirit of the candlelight protests." On the same day, Lee visited the May 18 Democratic Movement Seoul Memorial Association, where he met with Father Ham Se-woong, Chairman Lee Bu-young of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and other senior figures from the dissident community for a roundtable discussion.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, whose hometown is Jeonbuk, also began visiting Honam from the 16th, starting with Yeosu. On that day, Chung visited the target site of the Suncheon Gyeongjeon Line electrification project to check the progress, then paid respects at the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Memorial Tower, and held a meeting with local city and provincial council members to discuss regional issues. On the 18th, Chung will visit the May 18 Memorial Cemetery and hold a meeting with civic groups in Gwangju to listen to public sentiment.

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin, who has declared his presidential candidacy, will also attend the May 18 Eve event. Like other presidential candidates, Park plans to carry out his schedule in Gwangju, including holding a meeting with the Gwangju Youth Network.