Sim Sang-jung Comforts Women, Disabled, and Workers... Will She Succeed in 'Support Rate Rebound'?

Sim Sang-jung Highlights 'Progressive Clarity' with 'Support for the Vulnerable'
Sim's Promise to Guarantee 'Mobility Rights for Disabled' Leads Disability Groups to Halt 'Commute Protests'
However, Approval Rating Remains in the 3% Range... Evaluated as Having Minimal Presence
Experts Say "Demonstrates Competence as a Progressive Politician in TV Debates"
Some Expect Debate Skills and Support for the Vulnerable to Boost Popularity

Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, is standing on a campaign vehicle at the intersection in front of Daejeon Seo-gu City Hall on the 22nd, appealing for support from passing citizens.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] As the presidential election approaches, Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party's presidential candidate, is seeking a rebound opportunity by continuing her "walk with the vulnerable." She is clearly emphasizing her "progressive stance," mentioning protests by disability groups on their way to work, but her presence in opinion polls is still considered minimal.

Candidate Sim has focused on the voices of the vulnerable through the "Erased Names" campaign. At a press conference on the 17th of last month, after ending a five-day seclusion, she pledged, "In this presidential election, I will amplify the erased names through Sim Sang-jung's microphone. I will do my best to let the voices of green, women, and labor resonate." She added, "I will start public discussions on social issues that have been taboo as if they were sacred in progressive circles. I will break the taboo on taboos and open bold innovations in the old progressive movement."

Since then, starting on the 21st of last month by meeting Kim Ji-eun, the victim of former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung's sexual violence case, Sim has continued her walk with the vulnerable by meeting migrant workers, overnight logistics center workers, and residents of goshiwons from the 24th onward.

On the 27th of last month, she met with female police officers and apologized for the so-called "female police uselessness theory" raised by some. Sim said, "It is very shameful that some politicians are actually encouraging prejudice against female police officers. I apologize on their behalf." She expressed empathy, saying, "(Female police officers) are in a triple hardship situation, protecting public safety, fighting social prejudices against women, and battling various sexist practices and sexual violence within the police organization."

Additionally, she conducted the "Finding Mom's Name Project," highlighting the "labor value" of middle-aged and elderly women. This is a strategy differentiated from the political focus on the 20s male (Idaenam) and 20s female (Idaenyeo) debates.

Notably, Sim is the only presidential candidate who responded to the protests of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon). In her final remarks during the presidential candidates' TV debate on the 21st, she mentioned "disability mobility rights," saying, "I will not only secure the budget for mobility rights but also create an advanced country for persons with disabilities where they are treated with dignity. Please end the protests now." Jeonjangyeon has been holding "commuting protests" in the subway since the end of last year, demanding the guarantee of "disability mobility rights."

In response, Jeonjangyeon decided to suspend the "commuting protests" starting on the 23rd. Around 7:30 a.m. that day, they held a publicity event at Seoul Station on Subway Line 4, stating, "After Sim mentioned the guarantee of disability mobility rights in the TV debate, we are visiting the morning publicity event today," and "Therefore, 'I will take the subway on my way to work' will stop today." They also urged Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the People's Party candidate, to clarify their positions on the budget for disability rights.

Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, is visiting the site of a subway protest for the mobility rights of disabled people held at the Seoul Station Line 4 platform on the morning of the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Experts have analyzed that Sim's debate skills have recently stood out more clearly compared to other candidates. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "The words Sim Sang-jung showed in the TV debate explained well what policies the Justice Party, which pursues progressive politics, wants to show to the people," adding, "Compared to Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, who also pursues progressive politics, she showed relatively well-organized debate skills." Regarding Sim's walk with the vulnerable, he said, "In fact, Sim has not recently started such actions; along with the symbolism of the Justice Party, she has always walked with the vulnerable," adding, "Therefore, it does not seem particularly special."

Some speculate that Sim's walk with the vulnerable combined with her recent debate performance could lead to a kind of rise in support rates.

However, despite these efforts, Sim's support rate has not stood out in opinion polls. According to a survey commissioned by NewsPim to Korea Information Research on the 21st, targeting 1,002 adult men and women nationwide on their "next presidential candidate support," Sim recorded a support rate of 3.1%, ranking fourth. Compared to her 6.17% vote share in the 19th presidential election, this is a significantly lower figure. In this survey, Yoon received 44%, Lee 39.5%, and Ahn 7.5% support.

Meanwhile, regarding criticism that "the Justice Party has returned to a minority strategy," Sim responded, "Our society's non-mainstream is actually the absolute majority, the majority." At a debate hosted by the Korean Regional Journalists Club on the 24th of last month, she said, "Returning to the original intention, we must more devotedly strive to become the mainstream alongside citizens truly suffering in the valley of inequality," and expressed her determination, "I am confident that the path we have worked hard on is the path to Korea's future. We will compete confidently with other candidates."