Lee Jae-myung = Honam · Yoon Seok-yeol = TK, Unable to Gain Overwhelming Support... Strategy to Appease Public Sentiment
[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] With just over 40 days left until the presidential election, changes in public sentiment are being detected in the traditional strongholds of both ruling and opposition parties. Recent polls have shown that Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Yoon Seok-youl, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, have not secured overwhelming support in Honam and Daegu·Gyeongbuk regions, respectively. The candidates’ approaches to managing their strongholds also show noticeable differences.
According to a poll conducted by Realmeter, a professional polling firm, from the 24th to 25th among 1,018 voters nationwide, Lee received 58.8% support in Honam, while Yoon received 21.3% support in Daegu·Gyeongbuk. Compared to the last general election, where the Democratic Party secured 84.26% of the vote in Honam and the People Power Party’s predecessors, the United Future Party and the People’s Party, secured 62.87% in Daegu·Gyeongbuk, this is a significant difference.
Moreover, considering that in the 18th presidential election, which was a two-horse race between former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in, Moon lost despite securing about 90% of the vote in Honam, it is becoming increasingly difficult to neglect managing these strongholds.
In political circles, it is believed that in Honam, the traditional support base of the Democratic Party and the supporters of former leader Lee Nak-yeon have not yet fully shifted their support to Lee Jae-myung. In Daegu·Gyeongbuk, where support for former President Park Geun-hye remains strong, it is somewhat burdensome for Yoon, who led the investigation into the state affairs scandal.
Lee Jae-myung responded sensitively. He canceled his originally scheduled Metaverse event in Gyeonggi Province and suddenly visited Gwangju on the 27th. The day before, when Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil was blocked by resistance from members of the Victim Countermeasures Committee at the accident site, Lee personally stepped in to soothe public sentiment.
At the site, Lee emphasized the prompt discovery of missing persons and the safety of rescue teams. In particular, coinciding with the first day of the Serious Accident Punishment Act enforcement, he detailed plans to establish a Labor Safety and Health Agency. The core of the plan is to mandate the establishment of an Industrial Safety Committee that integrates primary and subcontractors to reduce industrial accidents, supported by the Labor Safety and Health Agency.
Yoon Seok-youl has already presented tailored growth policies for the Daegu·Gyeongbuk region. During his visit to Daegu·Gyeongbuk last month, Yoon stated, "Daegu·Gyeongbuk has always risen to protect the country in times of national hardship. Therefore, the people of Daegu·Gyeongbuk have a strong pride in their region’s history and tradition," and praised the region as "a leader in Korea’s modernization."
In particular, Yoon pledged, "We will build a 'comprehensive transportation network SOC' by steadily constructing metropolitan railroads and highways linked to the integrated new airport." He also announced plans to resume construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, establish a national industrial complex specialized in Small Modular Reactors (SMR), and build a green hydrogen platform. Additionally, he promised, "We will create accelerator-based advanced research industrial complexes in Gyeongju and Pohang and actively foster related new industries at the national level."
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