Targeting 'Seongsangnap' in Korea, Lee Criticizes 'Ipteulmak'... Pre-voting Calculations of Ruling and Opposition Parties

Handonghun Votes in Sinchon... Highlights 'Edae Controversial Remarks'
Lee Jaemyung Visits Daejeon... Covers Mouth & R&D 'Judgment Theory'
Ruling and Opposition Parties Judge Close Races in Over 50 Areas... Final Vote Campaigning

From the first day of early voting for the 22nd general election, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in fierce power struggles over 'location selection.' Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, voted in Sinchon, the 'Street of Youth,' directly confronting the Democratic Party candidate's controversial remarks about 'sexual bribery at Ewha Womans University.' Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, visited Daejeon, the 'Science City,' as an early voting site to highlight the government's cuts to research and development (R&D) budgets.

On the first day of early voting for the April 10 general election, on the 5th, Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and General Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, finished voting at the Sinchon-dong Community Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and responded to questions from the press.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chairman Han Dong-hoon appeared at the early voting station in Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, around 9 a.m. on the 5th, dressed in a red knit. The road name address of this polling station is 'Ewha Womans University-gil.' This is interpreted as targeting the controversy over Kim Jun-hyuk, Democratic Party candidate for Suwon City Council in Gyeonggi Province, and his remarks about 'sexual bribery involving Ewha students.'

After voting, Chairman Han told reporters, "This is the best early voting ever. I hope it shows the great power of decent citizens who have obeyed the law to those who ignore the law and the people." He emphasized, "If you don't go to the polls, the Republic of Korea will collapse."

When asked about the connection to Kim Jun-hyuk's remarks about 'sexual bribery involving Ewha students,' he said, "The Democratic Party defended the worst 'hate candidate' and claimed it would not affect the election outcome. The people will show that this is a misconception and arrogance."

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is voting at an early voting station set up at the Daejeon Lifelong Education Promotion Center in Jung-gu, Daejeon, on the morning of the 5th, the early voting day for the 22nd National Assembly election.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Lee Jae-myung appeared at the early voting station in Eunhaeng Seonhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, around 9:30 a.m., wearing a blue baseball jumper. He was accompanied by Park Jeong-hyun, a candidate running in Daedeok-gu where KAIST's main campus is located, and six KAIST students. This was aimed at the so-called 'gagged security' controversy, where a graduate criticizing President Yoon Suk-yeol for R&D budget cuts at the KAIST graduation ceremony in February was forcibly removed.

When reporters asked why he chose 'Daejeon,' Lee replied, "I wanted to point out the issue of R&D budget cuts and the government's ignorance of policy."

A KAIST student said, "Why do they call scientists a cartel and cut scientific research budgets without concrete evidence? Many researchers are leaving overseas, as Lee Jae-myung pointed out. I hope many people take another look at this."

Capture the Battleground Votes... Ruling and Opposition Target the Capital and Chungcheong Regions

On the morning of the 5th, when early voting for the 22nd National Assembly election began, a voter is placing a ballot paper into the ballot box at the early voting station set up at Naegok Open Culture Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

From the first day of early voting, Chairman Han Dong-hoon and Leader Lee Jae-myung, who clashed over 'location selection,' targeted the capital area and Chungcheong region respectively. The People Power Party analyzed that among 55 closely contested districts, nearly half?26?are in the capital area. Chairman Han plans to move extensively through battlegrounds such as Michuhol-gu and Yeonsu-gu in Incheon, Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province, and Yangcheon-gu, Guro-gu, Dongjak-gu, Mapo-gu, and Jongno-gu in Seoul.

The Democratic Party internally analyzed that it holds an advantage in 110 districts and that about 50 are competitive. Leader Lee, after early voting in Jung-gu, Daejeon, will immediately start support rallies focusing on consolidating support in the Chungcheong region. He will then move to North Chungcheong Province, visiting Okcheon County and Cheongju City, and in the afternoon, sweep through Boryeong City, Seocheon County, and Cheonan City in South Chungcheong Province to cultivate votes.