'Swearing' and 'Dish' Shower Directed at Lee Jae-myung Amid 'Low Approval Ratings'... Was It the Sentiment of Incheon Residents?

Unusual Public Sentiment in Incheon... Lee Struggles Even in 'Democratic Stronghold'
Jo Eung-cheon "Honestly Embarrassing"... Lee Sang-min "Lee Wind? Overblown Expectations"
Experts "Lee Jae-myung Tailored Election Strategy Backfires"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Lee Jae-myung, the general election campaign committee chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) running in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul by-election, is locked in a close race with his competitor Yoon Hyung-sun of the People Power Party (PPP), according to consecutive opinion polls, raising concerns within the DPK. This is because Lee, a former presidential candidate, appears to be struggling against Yoon, who has relatively low name recognition.

Incheon has been considered a stronghold of the DPK, so these results are being described as an "unexpected struggle," while some within the party see it as a "predictable outcome." Analysts suggest that Lee’s attempt at a "direct breakthrough" by running in Incheon, where he has no ties, rather than in his political hometown of Seongnam City or Gyeonggi Province, just two months after losing the presidential election, has backfired.

The unusual public sentiment in Incheon was also evident during the election campaign. Since officially declaring his candidacy on the 8th, Lee has faced numerous controversies at campaign sites over the past two weeks. On the afternoon of the 11th, while campaigning in the Gyeyang District, Lee was subjected to verbal abuse and protests from a citizen who shouted, "Is Gyeyang a pushover? Why are you here? Go to Bundang," and "It's embarrassing just to come here." On the 20th, a man in his 60s was arrested for throwing a metal bowl at Lee and his entourage during a street campaign.

Of course, verbal abuse and violence are wrong, but the strong protests and negative reactions from citizens are seen as evidence of the cold public sentiment toward Lee’s candidacy in Incheon Gyeyang-eul. In an interview with TBS Radio’s "Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory" on the 23rd, Lee assessed the DPK’s current disadvantage by saying, "Recently, the DPK’s approval ratings have plummeted, making it difficult for our candidates overall, and I am no exception. The aftermath of the presidential election defeat has caused a strong sense of frustration, and the cohesion is still very low, with a state of giving up and despair continuing."

According to a poll conducted by STI on the 19th and 20th targeting 880 residents aged 18 and over in the Gyeyang-eul constituency (with a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, using automated phone response with virtual mobile numbers; detailed information is available on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website), Lee’s support rate was 45.8%, while Yoon’s was 49.5%, indicating that Lee is trailing within the margin of error.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

There is a sense of embarrassment within the DPK. On the 23rd, Representative Cho Eung-cheon said in an interview with YTN Radio’s "News King Park Ji-hoon" that "Honestly, it’s embarrassing and upsetting. I have been canvassing thoroughly with local election candidates, and I feel a great sense of change compared to four years ago."

Cho also said that the negative public opinion regarding Lee’s candidacy in Incheon Gyeyang-eul was predictable. He said, "I have been saying from the beginning that now is not the time for him to move," adding, "The DPK is facing overlapping adverse factors, and there is no way the election held just three weeks after the president’s inauguration would be easy. There is no option but to plead sincerely."

Representative Lee Sang-min also criticized the early deployment of Lee and the role theory for the June 1 local elections, calling it "an overly inflated expectation." He said, "While Lee’s appearance will certainly have a positive effect in rallying supporters and party members, there are also negative aspects. Considering that the presidential election just ended recently and there are mixed feelings such as 'Why did he come out?' and scandals related to his personal affairs, it is a mistake to think a big wind will blow."

However, Lee, who had said the day before that he "respects the opinion poll results," expressed confidence in an interview on the 24th that "the reaction on the ground is different" and that he can win if people vote. On KBS Radio’s "Choi Kyung-young’s Strong Current Affairs," he said, "The fact that we are losing in the ARS poll might be a kind of tactic to make us give up. We must not fall for that. Even if you have ties, if you are incompetent and have little influence, would that really help?" He appealed to voters to judge based on ability rather than local ties.

Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon analyzed, "There seems to be a sentiment in Incheon that ‘Lee is underestimating Incheon’ or ‘He thinks it’s easy.’ The DPK strategically deployed Lee in this local election and gave him the position of general election campaign committee chairman to establish his standing within the party, but this strategy appears to have backfired not only in Incheon but nationwide."