Focusing on the Chungcheong Region
"Refraining from Excessive Slander"
The three-way race in the Democratic Party's presidential primary has been confirmed, with candidates Lee Jae-myung, Kim Kyung-soo, and Kim Dong-yeon focusing on capturing the crucial Chungcheong region, which serves as a casting vote in the presidential election. Additionally, they are differentiating themselves through policy pledges on defense industry, artificial intelligence (AI), carbon neutrality, and tax issues.
From the left, former leader and Democratic Party presidential primary candidate Lee Jae-myung, former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, and Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon are posing for a commemorative photo after signing the pledge at the Fair Election Practice Pledge Ceremony held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung stated on social media on the 17th, "I will make Chungcheong, the heart of balanced development in South Korea, an administrative and scientific capital," adding, "During my term, I will establish the National Assembly Sejong Office and the Presidential Sejong Office." In particular, Lee pledged, "I will promote the complete relocation of the National Assembly headquarters and the Presidential Office to Sejong through social consensus." On the same day, Lee visited the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) located in Yuseong-gu for an on-site meeting.
Kim Kyung-soo, former governor of Gyeongsangnam-do, who is putting great effort into the Chungcheong region to the extent of holding a press conference in Sejong City for his presidential bid, is also focusing on policy activities. On the same day, he held a dialogue on "Carbon Reduction and the Role of Local Governments" with Katrin Sternfeld, mayor of Malm?, Sweden, in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. In the afternoon, he delivered a congratulatory speech at a symposium titled "Seeking International Solidarity Towards Carbon Zero Cities."
Kim Dong-yeon, governor of Gyeonggi Province and a native of Eumseong, Chungbuk, continued his visit to the Chungcheong region, focusing on discussing livelihood issues by meeting with self-employed workers. His schedule includes paying respects at the April 19 Student Revolution Memorial Tower in Cheongju, Chungbuk, and attending a meeting with Democratic Party members of the Chungbuk Provincial Party Committee.
The early stage of the Democratic Party's presidential primary is unfolding as a policy-centered competition without "negative" (slander) tactics. The intention to avoid slander and emphasize unity is not unrelated to the party's defeat in the last presidential election due to excessive competition among candidates. Although they are currently united in the spirit of conducting a "de-negative" primary, it is uncertain whether this atmosphere will last until the end. For Governor Kim Dong-yeon and former Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who need to break the "Lee Jae-myung dominance," an opportunity to reverse the mood is necessary.
Some observers are paying attention to the stark contrast in tax policy perceptions among Lee, Governor Kim, and former Governor Kim. Lee's presidential policy think tank, "Growth and Integration," proposes tax exemption measures for some one-household two-homeowners, whereas Governor Kim and former Governor Kim both argue for the necessity of "tax increases" to secure investment funds.
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