Cheon Ha-ram "Strong enthusiasm among referees"... Analysis of record-high early voting rate in the third zone

22nd General Election Early Voting Closes at 31.3%
Cheon Haram "Strong Demand for Regime Judgment"
Oh Younghwan "Voters Moving to Third Camp Amid Negative Campaign"

With the 22nd general election early voting closing at a record-breaking turnout of 31.3%, third-party political groups analyzed that the sentiment of judging the current administration played a significant role.

On the 6th, the last day of early voting for the 22nd National Assembly election, ballot boxes are being moved to the Jongno District Election Commission in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Cheon Ha-ram, the Chief Election Strategy Committee Chair of the Reform New Party, said on the 8th on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' regarding the historic early voting turnout, "There is a very strong intention to judge President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee," adding, "In fact, Jeonnam shows a very high early voting rate, and looking at various indicators, I believe this general election is dominated by the sentiment to judge the arrogant Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the People Power Party."

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, who is running in the Hwaseong area for the 22nd general election, cast his valuable vote on the morning of the 5th, the first day of early voting, at the early voting station in Dongtan 7-dong Administrative Welfare Center, Hwaseong City. Photo by Lee Jun-seok, Yonhap News Agency

Chairman Cheon emphasized, "Right now, the fervor for judgment is strong," and added, "However, even when judging, it should not be a hypocritical judgment based on partisan logic but a courageous and principled one."

He continued, "Currently, Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Party and Cho Kuk’s Cho Kuk Innovation Party are both moving towards strengthening partisan logic, but the Reform New Party is a place where people who speak the right words regardless of factionalism, endure persecution, and courageously engage in politics gather," urging support by saying, "Please choose courageous young parties like Representative Lee Jun-seok, Jo Eung-cheon and Geum Tae-seop of 'Jogeumbakhae,' and Cheon Ha-ram, Heo Eun-ah, and Lee Gi-in of 'Cheonhayongin,' and empower a clean and non-hypocritical judgment of the administration."

Chairman Cheon also expressed confidence in the golden cross (surge in approval ratings) of Representative Lee Jun-seok, who is running in Dongtan-eul, Gyeonggi Province.

He said, "Representative Lee Jun-seok is really pushing hard," and added, "When I asked if he would die from campaigning without sleep, he said he hates losing more than dying." He also said, "Not only Lee’s strong will but also the intuition of Chairman Kim Jong-in is something I trust," and quoted, "Chairman Kim expressed his active support for Dongtan and asked me, 'Don’t you think Lee Jun-seok will win too, Chairman Cheon?' I replied, 'I think so,' and he said, 'Okay, I will support him with all my might for the remaining period. He will definitely win.'"

On the afternoon of the 7th, three days before the general election, candidate Lee Nak-yeon of Saeroun Mirae visited Gwangju Kia Champions Field in Gwangsan, Gwangju, greeting the audience. Photo by Saeroun Mirae, Yonhap News Agency

Oh Young-hwan, Chief Election Committee Chair of the New Future Party, on the same radio program, evaluated the record-high early voting turnout as "judgment and public anger against an incompetent and unscrupulous government," while analyzing that voters’ fatigue from the negative battles between the two major parties played a key role.

Chairman Oh said, "This election saw more than ever mutual accusations, harsh words, ridicule, and negativity running rampant," and added, "The people, tired of the two-party fight, listened to New Future’s politics of conflict resolution, prioritizing dialogue and mediation to solve livelihood issues."

Furthermore, he emphasized, "We will firmly judge and correct the incompetence, misrule, and reckless rampage of the Yoon Seok-yeol government," and said, "Our politics cannot be sustained by just the two major parties and forces calling for revenge." He stated, "We must change Korean politics," and added, "Beyond anger and judgment, New Future will be the party that talks about livelihoods first, proposes alternatives, and solves people’s problems through dialogue and mediation, preparing for tomorrow."