Kim Hyekyung and Seol Nanyoung's Behind-the-Scenes Support Activities
Spouses of Both Candidates Meet at Jogye Order Event
With the official campaign period for the 21st presidential election underway, the spouses of the presidential candidates are also actively participating in campaign activities. Kim Hyekyung, the spouse of Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party candidate, and Seol Nanyoung, the spouse of Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party candidate, are engaging in a full-fledged support competition by visiting sites and meeting individuals that the candidates themselves have not reached, even as they avoid taking the forefront.
Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and his wife Seol Nanyeong, along with Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, and his wife Kim Hyekyung, are holding hands at the 70th anniversary ceremony of the Central Shin Buddhist Association held on the 12th at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Having stood by Lee through several previous elections, Kim Hyekyung is focusing on the religious community during this presidential race. On May 15, Kim visited Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and met with Jeongsu, the Director of General Affairs. During the Democratic Party's presidential primary, she also visited Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, for a meeting with Hyeondeok, and made stops at Beomeosa Temple in Geumjeong-gu, Busan, Sudeoksa Temple in Yesan-gun, South Chungcheong Province, and Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Around the time of the passing of Pope Francis, she met Bishop Kim Jonggu at the Daejeon Diocese in Sejong City, and on May 13, she visited Archbishop Jeong Suntak at the Seoul Archdiocese of the Catholic Church.
Subsequently, on May 14, four days before the 45th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, Kim volunteered for meal service at the cafeteria of Bitgoeul Senior Health Town in Gwangju. This is the same location where, during the 2017 presidential election, she and Kim Jungsook visited to volunteer for meal service, even after her husband lost to then-Democratic Party candidate Moon Jaein. Later that afternoon, she visited the May Mothers House in Gwangju for a private meeting with the bereaved families of the May 18 movement. At this meeting, Kim said, "As time goes by, I feel more deeply the hearts of our mothers." When the bereaved families responded, "You must have gone through a lot as well," Kim replied, "What I have endured is nothing compared to yours."
= Kim Hyekyung, spouse of Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is greeting the May Mothers at the May Mothers House in Namgu, Gwangju on the afternoon of the 14th. Earlier that morning, Mrs. Kim volunteered for meal service at Bitgoeul Senior Health Town in Nodaedong, Namgu, Gwangju. Yonhap News
Previously, Kim Hyekyung had positioned herself as a supporter of Lee and the Democratic Party in past elections, but in this presidential race, she is keeping a low profile, to the point of being described as almost reclusive, distancing herself from the media. The prevailing interpretation is that this is due to the ongoing trial regarding allegations of misuse of corporate credit cards. Considering the various controversies surrounding former President Yoon Sukyeol and his spouse, there also appears to be a strategic calculation that the candidate's spouse should avoid public appearances. In political circles, it is expected that Kim will continue to support Lee by visiting symbolic locations or meeting with influential figures from various fields who could contribute to Lee's victory, rather than attending high-profile events.
Seol Nanyoung, the wife of candidate Kim Moonsoo and a former labor activist, is taking a field-oriented approach by visiting socially marginalized groups. While Kim focuses on rallying conservative support in the Yeongnam region, Seol has not neglected efforts to win over voters in Honam. Born in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, and a graduate of Suncheon Girls' High School, Seol is leveraging her roots in Honam to appeal to local sentiment.
On the previous day, Seol attended a breakfast meeting of the Honam Future Forum at a hotel in Gangnam, Seoul. The Honam Future Forum, established in 2013, is centered around figures from the Gwangju and South Jeolla regions, such as former Chief Justice Lee Yonghoon and former National Intelligence Service Director Kim Seungkyu. While Kim Moonsoo is focused on consolidating conservative support in Yeongnam, Seol is taking the lead in targeting the Honam vote, an area the People Power Party has traditionally overlooked. Seol is also considering visiting the Honam region between May 17 and 18, around the anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement. Kim Moonsoo is also planning to include Honam in his itinerary for events commemorating the May 18 movement.
Kim Moonsoo, the wife of the People Power Party's presidential candidate, Seol Nanyeong, is attending the 70th anniversary ceremony of the Central Shin Buddhist Association held at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 12th, moving to her seat. Photo by Jo Yongjun
Officials from Kim Moonsoo's campaign analyze that Seol Nanyoung's proactive yet quiet activities could highlight Kim's strengths in the competition against Lee Jaemyung. This is because, as a former labor movement leader, Seol has never been embroiled in controversy during Kim's political career as a lawmaker and governor of Gyeonggi Province. In particular, some expect that Seol's ability to deliver messages that differ from the hardline image traditionally associated with the People Power Party could have a positive effect on expanding support among centrist voters.
Seol plans to quietly visit various places in the Seoul metropolitan area over the weekend, focusing on locations Kim Moonsoo has not been able to visit himself, while also increasing her appearances on YouTube and other media. On May 16, Seol appeared on the YouTube channel 'Goseongguk TV,' making a 'V' sign with her hand and saying, "Please look upon me kindly. I ask for your support for candidate number 2, Kim Moonsoo." When host Goseongguk asked if she had practiced saying "candidate number 2," Seol replied, "Kim Moonsoo is a bit slow in speed competitions, but I'm a little faster." Regarding how she refers to Kim, Seol explained, "Sometimes I call him 'Boktae.' Isn't it because he was born with blessings from birth? That's why. I use it as a pet name from time to time."
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