The Start of '7mal 8cho', Opposition Party Kicks Off Presidential Race

Candidates Busy as People Power Party Primary Schedule Released

People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is speaking at the joint meeting of party leaders and senior lawmakers held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 21st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As the peak vacation season begins and we enter the 'end of July to early August' period, each presidential candidate has started their full-scale activities. With the 'primary bus' boarding scheduled for the end of next month, the pace toward the bus stops is quickening. Candidates are expected to expand their activities, including presidential candidacy declarations and policy announcements, starting from the next two weekends.

The People Power Party's Primary Preparation Committee decided at a meeting on the 20th to hold the first cut-off (preliminary primary) by September 15 to select eight candidates. Candidates, who need to raise their recognition through debates and policy announcements by then, do not have much time left. Moreover, Lee Jun-seok, the party leader of the People Power Party, maintains the stance that the 'bus' must depart without fail after 'late August to early September.'

Jeon Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, is talking with Han Ki-ho, Secretary General of the People Power Party, at the launch ceremony of the One Korea Innovation Forum held at the Kensington Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul on the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Coinciding with this timing, each candidate has begun public activities. Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province, announced that he will officially declare his presidential candidacy online on the 25th. The declaration message will highlight the keywords 'fairness' and 'innovation,' which Governor Won has emphasized so far. Starting with this declaration, Won's campaign will officially launch and begin full-scale activities. A representative from Won's camp stated, "After the declaration, we plan to announce policies in the form of specific pledges," adding, "We have also planned book publications and forum seminars, but the timing is still under discussion."

Choi Jae-hyung, former Auditor General, who has been rapidly advancing his political activities since joining the People Power Party on the 15th, is also expected to officially declare his presidential candidacy next week. A representative from Choi's camp explained, "We are preparing to make the declaration next week. The message is almost finalized," adding, "However, due to the COVID-19 situation, we are considering venue arrangements and scheduling." Recently, Choi has been in contact with political figures both inside and outside the party, including former National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa and People Power Party lawmaker Tae Young-ho.

The camp of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl is intensifying efforts to organize the campaign as the public opinion listening schedule titled 'Yoon Seok-youl Listens' nears its end. Since declaring his political participation on the 29th of last month, no visible activities other than the public opinion listening schedule have emerged, leading some to evaluate that he is 'falling behind.' As the 'super week' in politics, predicted for late July, approaches, the pace seems to be accelerating. On the 23rd, the official website, a communication channel with supporters, was launched, and from the 26th, donations will be accepted through a support account.

Yoon's camp is preparing to recruit personnel to assist with the presidential campaign, including the legal team for negative campaign responses, which was publicly announced the day before. A representative from Yoon's camp said, "We have formed a team to handle legal issues, mainly composed of working-level lawyers who have been responding to negative campaigns," adding, "We are also discussing the recruitment of various political figures."