Yoon Courts Youth... Lee Jun-seok Provides 'Support Fire'

Yoon Seok-yeol and Lee Jun-seok Greet Public on Daehangno Today
Task: Revamping 'Political Prosecutor' Image

People Power Party's presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol and leader Lee Jun-seok are greeting citizens on the afternoon of the 4th at Jeonmeum Street in Seomyeon, Busan. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy reporters Kum Boryeong and Park Juni] The People Power Party's election campaign committee, having reorganized its ranks, is actively pursuing a 'youth popularity surge' and is achieving some results. More than 200 people have applied for the youth assistant positions currently open for public recruitment, successfully attracting attention, and presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol is also gaining a 'youth-friendly' image with the help of party leader Lee Jun-seok. However, there are opinions that it remains to be seen whether the interest of the 2030 generation, who mainly remain in the moderate middle ground, will ultimately translate into 'votes.'

On the afternoon of the 8th, candidate Yoon will join leader Lee for street greetings in Daehak-ro, Seoul. Earlier, he met with young performers and cultural artists along with co-head of the Youth Headquarters, Yeo Myung, to discuss support measures. The common theme in these activities is 'youth.'

Since the so-called 'Ulsan meeting (on the 3rd),' candidate Yoon has been strengthening his relationship with candidate Lee and focusing on imprinting both the party and himself with a 'youth-friendly' image. The 2030 generation is a group that Yoon is investing in to the extent that he personally serves as the youth chairman, but the heavy image of being a 'political prosecutor' acts as an obstacle. Therefore, the help of leader Lee, who is popular among young people, is essential for courting the youth demographic.

On the 4th, in Busan, Yoon appeared on the streets campaigning with leader Lee wearing a red hoodie, and the day before, they patrolled together near Hongdae, a youthful area. This is in the same context. Yoon expressed infinite trust, saying, "I will fully accept what leader Lee plans and decides, so if he tells me to wear this kind of clothes (red hoodie) and run, I will run; if he tells me to go somewhere, I will go."

On the evening of the 7th, Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, visited the Hongik Autonomous Crime Prevention Unit in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and patrolled residential and commercial areas with the crime prevention members. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Leader Lee is also actively supporting candidate Yoon. At the campaign committee launch ceremony on the 6th, he focused on giving 'opportunities' to the younger generation, such as featuring a high school senior as a speaker. Additionally, Lee introduced an 'Artificial Intelligence (AI) Yoon Seok-yeol' to make candidate Yoon more familiar to young people. Lee expressed confidence by criticizing the Democratic Party's youth policies, saying, "If they want to follow, let them try."

In fact, after the dramatic reconciliation of the 'Yoon Seok-yeol?Lee Jun-seok' conflict, the People Power Party is feeling the 'youth wind' firsthand. More than 200 people have applied for the youth assistant positions since recruitment began last week. Choi Ji-hyun, chief deputy spokesperson for Yoon's campaign committee, said, "We can feel both the changes through leader Lee and the interest of young people firsthand," adding, "It's certain that they are creating synergy together."

Some point out that candidate Yoon's youth-friendly actions must ultimately lead to votes. Park Sang-byeong, a professor at Inha University Graduate School of Policy, said, "The intention and will are commendable, but whether it can attract youth support is another matter," criticizing, "If there is no change in authoritarian language and mindset, wearing a hoodie a hundred times is useless."