[D-7 Campaign Strategy] Lee Jaemyung: "Final Week Focused on Judging Insurrectionary Forces" and Maximizing Voter Turnout

Full Mobilization of Election Committee to Encourage Early Voting
Nationwide Tour Over Two Weeks to Rally Supporters
Strategic Focus on Unvisited Regions and Key Battlegrounds

Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, plans to focus the official campaign period of the 21st presidential election, which is just one week away, on holding the so-called 'insurrectionary forces' accountable and overcoming the current crisis. In particular, the campaign intends to make every effort to increase overall voter turnout, including early voting, based on the assessment that a higher turnout will be advantageous.

Yonhap News Agency

On the 27th, Cho Seungrae, head of public relations for the Democratic Party's election committee, stated, "Given that this election is an early presidential election triggered by the 12·3 insurrection, we are approaching a critical moment of choice: 'How will we bring an end to the insurrection?' and 'How will we overcome the structural crisis in Korean democracy caused by the collapse of constitutional order?'" He added, "We plan to engage in in-depth dialogue with the public and conduct campaign activities closely connected to the field." The Democratic Party has decided that, except for essential personnel, all members will remain in their respective regions to participate in the campaign.

In particular, the Democratic Party is putting significant effort into encouraging early voting to boost turnout. Cho explained, "Key members of the election committee will participate in early voting to encourage others to do the same." It is also reported that Lee will cast his vote in Seoul on the 29th.

During the past two weeks of official campaigning (from the 12th to the 26th), Lee traveled through the Seoul metropolitan area, Yeongnam, Honam, and the Chungcheong region. He began his campaign at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul and visited Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, considered weak areas for his party, on the 13th, followed by Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province on the 14th. During this period, Lee's approval ratings hovered around the majority mark, raising expectations for a more favorable public opinion in Yeongnam compared to previous general elections. Afterwards, Lee stayed in Honam, a traditional stronghold for his party, from the 15th to the 18th to solidify voter support. By attending events such as the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the 5·18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, Lee emphasized his position as the legitimate candidate of the democratic camp, while also seeking to maximize votes in Honam, given that every vote is critical in this presidential race.

While covering his schedule in the Seoul metropolitan area, Lee also visited Jeju before heading to South Gyeongsang Province. On the 23rd, he attended the 16th memorial service for former President Roh Moo-hyun and met with former President Moon Jae-in. During the campaign period, he also visited areas such as Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and South Chungcheong Province to rally his supporters. So far, Lee has visited Gyeonggi Province the most, which is attributed to both its status as the most populous region and his previous experience as governor of Gyeonggi.

The Democratic Party is reportedly deciding future campaign stops based on a balance between regions not yet visited and those deemed strategically important. A party official noted, "There are areas we have not yet visited, including parts of Seoul, Chungcheong, western South Gyeongsang, and Yeongseo in Gangwon." During the remaining campaign period, Lee's itinerary will be determined by trying to visit as many unvisited regions as possible, while also considering the overall vote-getting strategy for the presidential election.