Yoon Cabinet and Ruling Party to Gather in Gwangju on the 18th... Focused Attack on Opposition's Stronghold (Comprehensive)

Scheduled Visit to 5·18 Democratic Cemetery
'Seojin Policy' Ahead of Election
Policy Meetings with Organizations Also Planned

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a meeting with organizations related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising, including the May 18 Democratic Uprising Injured Persons Association, May 18 Democratic Meritorious Persons' Families Association, May 18 Democratic Uprising Contributors Association, and the May 18 Memorial Foundation, held at the National Assembly on the 16th. 2022.5.16 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] President Yoon Seok-yeol, along with cabinet ministers and all members of the People Power Party, will visit the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Gwangju, on the 18th. This move is being seen as the official launch of a forward policy focusing on aggressively targeting the opposition party's stronghold ahead of the June 1 local elections.

A senior official of the People Power Party said on the 16th, "All party members will visit the democratic cemetery," adding, "I understand that President Yoon has also instructed ministers and senior Blue House officials to attend."

According to political circles, it is unprecedented for all members of the People Power Party to travel to Gwangju together. Previously, Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, visited the May 18th cemetery in Gwangju to lay flowers at the memorial tower and knelt down, and last year, Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, also visited Gwangju as his first local schedule after taking office. However, this is the first time that all members are attending.

Prior to this, the People Power Party also held a policy meeting with organizations related to the May 18th Democratic Movement in the afternoon. It is also the first time that a conservative party has directly invited and held a meeting with these organizations. The meeting was attended by People Power Party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong, policy committee chairman Sung Il-jong, Director of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik, and Senior Secretary for Civil Society at the Presidential Office Kang Seung-gyu. In his opening remarks, Floor Leader Kwon emphasized, "The essence of May 18 is free democracy, so it is neither exclusive to Gwangju nor the property of any particular party," adding, "May 18 must stand with those who call for free democracy anywhere in the world." Senior Secretary Kang said, "I will convey the president's intention that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration will work together to further elevate the spirit of unity, free democracy, and human rights through May 18."

Although this visit to Gwangju reflects the intention of regional integration efforts, it also appears to be mindful of the local elections approaching on the 16th. This approach is expected to influence not only Honam but also the West Coast metropolitan local governments where close contests are taking place, such as Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, and Chungnam. Eom Kyung-young, director of the Era Spirit Research Institute, predicted, "Rather than focusing solely on Honam, this will resonate persuasively with the metropolitan area and moderate voters."