"Nationwide 55 Locations in a Tight Race... 15 in Seoul, 11 in Incheon-Gyeonggi"

Appealing to Undecided Voters and Others with the "Opposition Judgment Theory"

On the day before the advance voting for the 22nd general election, the People Power Party analyzed the situation, stating that they are engaged in a close race within 3-4 percentage points in 55 locations nationwide.

Handonghun, the Chief Election Strategy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is appealing for support for candidates Kim Jaeseop of Dobong-gu Gap and Kim Seondong of Dobong-gu Eul near Ssangmun Station in Seoul on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Jung Yang-seok, Vice Chairman of the People Power Party's Election Countermeasures Committee, said at a briefing at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 4th, "We are winning or losing within 3-4 percentage points in 55 locations nationwide," adding, "There are 15 places in Seoul, 11 in Incheon and Gyeonggi, totaling 26 in the metropolitan area, 13 in Chungcheong, 13 in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, and 3 in Gangwon, making it a situation where we can neither be complacent nor give up."

Vice Chairman Jung said, "If we perform well in many of these ultra-close areas, the People Power Party will definitely win," and added, "Conversely, if we collapse here, even the constitutional amendment blockade line could be breached." To amend the constitution, a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly members is required.

However, he did not disclose specific competitive regions or the expected number of seats. Vice Chairman Jung said, "Election predictions are not easy, and opinion polls are very difficult," adding, "Rather than announcing a certain number of seats, doing our best in the final stage is the way to victory." When asked whether the 'Han River Belt' was included among the competitive areas, he replied, "I suppose so."

Regarding reports that the People Power Party has an advantage in 82 constituencies, he predicted the number would be higher. Hong Seok-jun, Deputy Director of the People Power Party's Comprehensive Situation Room, said, "It is more than that. The number of competitive areas is also increasing."

He did not give a definitive answer to claims that a high voter turnout would be disadvantageous to the People Power Party. The Democratic Party of Korea released an analysis on the same day stating that a 65% turnout would be favorable to them. Vice Chairman Jung said, "As the Democratic Party said, if the turnout is high, it favors one party, and if low, it favors another, but we cannot conclude anything yet," adding, "Our position is that the election results are unpredictable."

The People Power Party plans to appeal to undecided voters and the conservative camp through a narrative of judging the opposition party. Vice Chairman Jung said, "We will emphasize to the undecided and passive supporters that if things continue as they are, they will be ruled by a group of criminals," adding, "We want to stress that voters should judge the party that nominated a candidate who unprecedentedly disregards voters in election history."