Focusing on Regional Pledges
and Targeting Centrist Voters
Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, Kim Moonsu, the People Power Party presidential candidate, and Lee Joonseok, the Reform New Party presidential candidate, all running in the 21st presidential election, have campaigned for two consecutive days in the Yeongnam region. On the 13th, all major candidates held rallies in Daegu, and on the 14th, they focused their efforts on Busan and South Gyeongsang Province (PK), which have emerged as key battlegrounds in the presidential race.
On the first day of official campaign activities for the 21st presidential election on the 12th, banners of Democratic Party candidate Lee Jaemyung and People Power Party candidate Kim Moonsu are displayed on Marine City Road in Haeundae-gu, Busan. Photo by Yonhap News
The fact that major candidates are campaigning simultaneously highlights that the votes in the PK region will be a crucial variable in determining the outcome of the election. In particular, Busan is known as a "conservative stronghold," but it is also considered a region where voter sentiment is difficult to predict during elections.
Lee Jaemyung began his day by visiting the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan to pay tribute to the UN soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Korean War. In the afternoon, he will hold a major rally in Seomyeon, the busiest district in Busan. This is Lee Jaemyung's first visit to Busan since his meeting with Busan Mayor Park Hyungjun in March. Afterward, he will visit Changwon, Tongyeong, and Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province. While traveling by bus from Busan to South Gyeongsang Province, he plans to hold a YouTube live broadcast to maximize his time communicating with voters.
Cho Seungrae, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party's Central Election Committee, stated, "Starting today, Lee Jaemyung will embark on a grand journey spanning east to west, traveling from Busan through South Gyeongsang (Changwon, Tongyeong, Geoje, Hadong) and on to South Jeolla (Gwangyang, Yeosu, Suncheon, Mokpo)," adding, "This schedule reflects the candidate's strong ambition to achieve development and integration in the southeastern and Honam regions."
Kim Moonsu has been concentrating his campaign efforts in Yeongnam for three days, starting from the official launch of the campaign on the 12th. On this day, he begins his schedule at Jinju Central Market in South Gyeongsang Province. He will then move to Sacheon to visit the Korea Aerospace Administration, have lunch with representatives from the aviation maintenance industry, visit the Changwon National Industrial Complex, campaign in Miryang, and finally visit Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan.
This strategy is interpreted as an effort to solidify support among traditional conservative voters, which has been shaken recently due to discord over the unification of presidential candidates. Previously, on the 13th at the Busan City Party office, Kim Moonsu stated, "If I become president, I will transfer 100% of the management, deregulation, and development rights for Busan's greenbelt to the Busan mayor within a month," adding, "In regions outside the capital area where the population is not increasing, I plan to boldly lift all regulations and leave matters to the discretion of the mayors and governors."
Lee Joonseok will spend the entire day campaigning in Busan. His first stop will be the Busan Seonggyungwan Confucian Association at the Busan Yurim Hall. This move is seen as a response to Lee Jaemyung recently securing support from Confucian scholars in his hometown of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, who are known for their conservative leanings, by seeking support from Confucian scholars in Busan. Afterwards, he will visit Pusan National University, have lunch with students at the campus cafeteria, and meet with a religious leader at Anyangam Hermitage in Beomeosa Temple. In the afternoon, Lee Joonseok will campaign at Jagalchi Market and the Seomyeon Youth Street, concluding his day. The previous day in Daegu, Lee Joonseok expressed his determination to stay in the race, saying, "I hope Kim Moonsu will refrain from mentioning unification or a big tent with me any further."
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