Park Jiwon: "The Gap Will Narrow, But Ultimately Lee Jae Myung Will Win"

Public Support for Government Change Exceeds 55%... Vote Gap Expected Around 5%
"Unification Unlikely... Honam Voter Turnout Will Decide the Outcome"

Park Jiwon, co-chair of the Democratic Party's election campaign committee, predicted on May 25 that the gap between candidates Lee Jae Myung and Kim Moonsoo in the 21st presidential election would narrow to around 5%, but that victory would ultimately go to Lee.

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung, who embarked on the Namdo Culture Belt Alley Listening Tour, is seen smiling while listening to a support speech by Park Jiwon, co-chair of the election campaign committee, at the Gunmin Square in Haenam-eup, Haenam County, Jeollanam-do on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News

Meeting with reporters in Gwangju on this day, Park said, "We should pay attention to the fact that public opinion polls consistently show 50%, and at times more than 55%, of respondents supporting a change of government," and added, "Although the gap in approval ratings is clearly narrowing, the final vote difference will be around 5%."

Regarding the recent slight stagnation in Lee Jae Myung's approval ratings, he analyzed, "As Lee's dominance became apparent, some voters seem to be reacting by resisting the bandwagon effect," and pointed out, "There has been a dispersal of support toward candidates Lee Junseok and Kwon Youngguk."

On the 23rd, eleven days before the 21st presidential election, campaign banners of presidential candidates were hung at Gongdeok Intersection in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

He expressed a skeptical view on the possibility of opposition candidate unification. Park stated, "It is virtually impossible for Kim Moonsoo and Lee Junseok to unify their candidacies," and added, "Even if unification were to occur, Lee Jae Myung would still win."

He continued, "Lee Junseok likely believes that even if he secures only about 10% of the vote, it would be a politically meaningful result, so he will not pursue unification," and added, "If he were to unify, it would be tantamount to declaring he has no political future, and he is surely aware of this."

He also emphasized, "Even if unification were to happen, the public will not choose forces associated with insurrection," and insisted, "Ultimately, the structure is such that Lee Jae Myung cannot help but win."

Park stated, "The closer the race, the more important the consolidation of support in Honam becomes," and explained, "While Jeonnam is showing a trend of higher voter turnout, Gwangju needs to boost both its vote share and turnout." He added, "Honam must play a leading role in the change of government in order to make greater demands of the next administration," and called for unity among voters in Gwangju and Jeonnam during the remainder of the campaign period.