Presidential Election D-100: Ruling Party "Golden Cross in January" vs. Opposition "Tension of Comeback"

Woo Sang-ho "Approval Ratings Have Started to Move"
Lee Jun-seok "In the Dark"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] On the 29th, with 100 days remaining until next year's presidential election, both ruling and opposition parties are feeling a sense of tension as they assess the political landscape. The Democratic Party of Korea views candidate Lee Jae-myung's pursuit as having officially begun and hopes for a golden cross early next year, but concerns remain over polling numbers stuck in a box range. Meanwhile, the People Power Party positively evaluates the consolidation of its support base but remains cautious, describing the situation as still "uncertain."

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the National Presidential Election Committee meeting held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju on the morning of the 29th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho appeared on a radio show that day and analyzed, "Polling numbers are slightly but stuck in a box range; now they are beginning to move." Regarding the narrowing gap in support rates between Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, and Lee, Woo said, "It is meaningless if only one side's support rate drops," adding, "On one side (Yoon), the convention effect has faded, and on the other, Lee's support rate fluctuations have started." He stated, "The goal is to close the gap within the margin of error in automated response system (ARS) polls by the end of this year and to explicitly or statistically achieve a complete reversal by mid to late January next year."

The Democratic Party is focusing all efforts on rallying its existing support base. Candidate Lee appointed lawmaker Oh Young-hoon, who served as chief secretary to former Democratic Party leader and primary rival Lee Nak-yeon, as his campaign chief secretary, and appointed lawmaker Yoon Gun-young, a close aide to President Moon Jae-in, as political affairs chief. Lee himself is spending four nights and five days in Honam, strengthening his traditional support base.

Although slightly ahead in polls, the People Power Party shows clear signs of tension over the failure to recruit former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in and controversies such as the withdrawal of former lawmaker Kim Seong-tae from the campaign's functional headquarters chief position after being nominated. Lee Jun-seok, the party leader and standing co-chairman of the campaign committee, said in a radio interview that if the competition tightens or allows a reversal, the need for Kim Jong-in's involvement will increase. Lee stated, "Yoon must not face a crisis," but also said, "If we recruit Kim Jong-in, we must treat him with respect and give him full authority."

On the 29th, with 100 days remaining until next year's presidential election, both ruling and opposition parties are feeling a sense of tension as they assess the political landscape. The Democratic Party of Korea views Lee Jae-myung's pursuit as having officially begun and hopes for a golden cross early next year, though concerns remain over polling numbers stuck in a box range. Meanwhile, the People Power Party positively evaluates the consolidation of its support base but cautiously describes the situation as still "uncertain."

Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho appeared on a radio show that day and analyzed, "Polling numbers are slightly but stuck in a box range; now they are starting to move." Regarding the narrowing gap in support rates between candidate Yoon Seok-youl of the People Power Party and Lee, Woo said, "It is meaningless if only one side's support rate drops," adding, "On one side (Yoon), the convention effect has faded, and on the other, Lee's support rate has begun to fluctuate." He stated, "The goal is to close the gap within the margin of error in automated response system (ARS) polls by the end of this year and to explicitly and completely overtake by mid to late January next year."

The Democratic Party is focusing all efforts on rallying its existing support base. Lee appointed lawmaker Oh Young-hoon, who served as chief secretary to former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yon, a former primary rival, as his campaign chief secretary, and appointed lawmaker Yoon Gun-young, a close aide to President Moon Jae-in, as political affairs chief. Lee himself is spending four nights and five days in Honam to strengthen his traditional support base.

Although slightly ahead in polls, the People Power Party shows clear signs of tension over the failure to recruit former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in and controversies surrounding the withdrawal of Kim Seong-tae, former lawmaker and appointed head of the campaign’s functional division. Lee Jun-seok, the party leader and standing co-chairman of the campaign committee, said in a radio interview that if the competition tightens or allows a reversal, the need for Kim Jong-in’s involvement will increase. Lee said, "There must be no crisis for candidate Yoon," but added, "If we are to recruit Kim Jong-in, we must treat him with respect and give him full authority."

Additionally, Lee expressed dissatisfaction with Yoon’s side, reacting with surprise to reports that he was not even notified in advance of Yoon’s scheduled visit to Chungcheong and that lawmaker Jang Je-won, who announced his intention to resign from the campaign due to family issues, led personnel decisions. Regarding Kim Byung-joon, the standing campaign chairman described as the campaign’s "one-top," Lee said, "I expect him to demonstrate the appropriate capabilities," showing a reserved attitude for now. [Image source=Yonhap News] Photo by Yonhap News

Additionally, Lee expressed dissatisfaction toward Yoon's side, reacting with surprise to reports that he was not even notified in advance of Yoon's scheduled visit to Chungcheong that day and that lawmaker Jang Je-won, who announced his intention to resign from the campaign due to issues involving his children, led personnel decisions. Regarding Kim Byung-joon, the standing co-chairman of the campaign committee known as the 'one-top,' Lee showed a reserved attitude, saying, "I expect him to demonstrate the capabilities befitting his position," indicating he will watch closely for now.