[General Election Battleground](22) Moon Jin-seok VS Shin Beom-cheol, 'Counter-Accusations'... Return Match in Cheonan Gap

"Must Change to People Power Party" VS "Unconditional Judgment on the Regime"
United in Early Construction of GTX-C Line to Resolve Traffic Congestion

In Cheonan-si Gap, Chungnam, the second showdown took place between Moon Jin-seok, the Democratic Party candidate, and Shin Beom-cheol, the People Power Party candidate. In the general election four years ago, Moon defeated Shin by a margin of 1.42 percentage points (1,328 votes). The two candidates, facing off again, are accusing each other as they enter the final stages of the competition.

On the 2nd, Moon Jin-seok, the Democratic Party candidate for Cheonan Gap, and basketball star Han Ki-beom, 'Han Ki-beom Hope Sharing Representative,' greeted voters around the Wonseongcheon Stream walking trail area in Cheonan. Photo by Choi Young-chan elach1@

Party and regime influence seem greater than the candidate

Voters appeared to decide their support based more on the party than the individual candidates. Park (60s, male), a taxi driver and voter in Cheonan Gap, met with a reporter near Cheonan Station on the 2nd and said, "Surprisingly, there are many leftists in Cheonan, which is worrying," adding, "Everything needs to change to the People Power Party for things to work; right now, nothing is being done. It's not an ordinary situation."

Yu (60s, male), who runs a dried seafood store in Cheonan Central Market, also said, "This area is a weak region for the ruling party, but as someone from Chungcheong Province, Chairman Han Dong-hoon relocating the National Assembly to Chungcheong is an incredibly good thing," emphasizing, "The Democratic Party's leader is a criminal."

On the other hand, Kim (50s, male), a Democratic Party supporter who runs a snack bar in the Central Market, said, "Only the Democratic Party is visiting," and added, "Shin only recently started coming; he didn't come before." He continued, "Honestly, Cheonan Gap doesn't have many young people, so I don't know how it will turn out," expressing concern, "In places with many young people, the Democratic Party is winning everywhere now..."

On the 2nd, Shin Beom-cheol, the People Power Party candidate for Cheonan Gap, Han Dong-hoon, the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman, and Lee Chang-soo, the candidate for Cheonan Byeong, are campaigning while standing on top of a vehicle. Photo by Choi Young-chan elach1@

On the same day, Park (50s, male), met on the Wonseongcheon walking trail in Cheonan, said, "It's definitely a judgment on the regime. You don't even have to ask," adding, "(President Yoon Seok-yeol) initially called for fairness and common sense, but after taking office, he completely changed."

Mutual accusations over debate remarks

The two candidates in Cheonan Gap are engaged in a fierce battle of wits in the final stages of the election by accusing each other. Shin was the first to file a complaint. On the 30th of last month, Shin reported Moon to the election commission for spreading false information during a TV debate between the two candidates, claiming Moon made statements that were not factual. Subsequently, banners stating that Moon had been sued were also displayed. Moon, in turn, filed a complaint against Shin on the 4th for violating the Public Official Election Act by spreading false information. This was based on Shin’s false explanation in response to a question about the investigation pressure related to the death of Chae Sang-byeong during a debate broadcast on the 19th of last month.

Banners of Moon Jin-seok, the Democratic Party candidate for Cheonan Gap, and Shin Beom-cheol, the People Power Party candidate for Cheonan Gap, hanging near Cheonan Station. Photo by Choi Young-chan elach1@

Moon told reporters on the 2nd, "They are accusing me of spreading false information over a part of the debate where my memory was a bit off, and engaging in banner politics and slander," adding, "The election commission just notified Shin’s side today to take down the banners." He also said, "At first, I thought he was a sincere and kind person, but now I wonder if I misjudged him."

Shin also told reporters that day, "Moon was an incumbent lawmaker, but his achievements are not as significant as I expected," adding, "Four years ago, there was talk about developing the old downtown of Cheonan, and the same talk continues now." In a phone call with a reporter on the 5th, he explained, "Moon should have filed the complaint based on objective facts, but he didn’t. It seems he just wanted to file a complaint."

Both candidates united on promises for 'early construction of GTX-C' and 'outer ring road'

Despite their fierce competition and mutual accusations, the two candidates shared a common goal in their pledges for the voters of Cheonan Gap. Both cited the early construction of the GTX-C line as one of their key promises. Shin said, "We will expedite the inclusion of Cheonan Station on the GTX-C line and build a new Cheonan Station," adding, "At the same time, we will complete the Cheonan outer ring road early to alleviate traffic congestion." Moon emphasized, "Cheonan does not have an outer ring road; only half of it has been secured," promising, "I will secure the remaining half of the outer ring road."