[Report] "I Don't Know" "No Interest"... Daejeon Remains Indifferent Even With Presidential Election Imminent

A Barometer of Public Sentiment in Major Elections
Fatigue with Mainstream Politics Among the Young Generation
Headphones On to Tune Out Campaign Vehicle Music
Silence at KAIST After R&D Budget Cuts
"Still Kim Moonsoo" vs. "This Time, the Democratic Party"

"The election? Is it okay to talk so openly about that? Oh, I don't really know much about those things."

This was the response from the owner of a trendy cafe near Doan-dong, Yuseong District, Daejeon, when casually asked on May 25, "What do you think will happen in this election?" Even just a week before the 21st presidential election, Daejeon, known as the "city of scholars," maintained an air of calm and restraint over the past weekend. Unlike the bustling election scenes in downtown Seoul, where campaign vehicles blare campaign songs and supporters in colorful T-shirts roam the streets, Daejeon felt far removed from the noisy "election battleground" atmosphere.

Students pass by without paying attention in front of the promotional posters of the 21st presidential election candidates posted in front of Chungnam National University in Daejeon. Photo by Moon Hyewon

The same was true of the citizens' reactions. Unlike the heated and even overheated election fervor in the Seoul metropolitan area, the mood in Daejeon was indifferent. People passing by the small election posters stuck on city walls or the corners of iron bridges either took a long detour or averted their eyes, as if they had seen something they were not supposed to see.

On May 26, a visit to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)?which last year suffered a "trauma" when former President Yoon Suk-yeol abruptly dismissed a graduate student requesting increased R&D budget support?revealed that there was little sign of any election atmosphere.

On the 26th, about a week before the presidential election, the front gate of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Yuseong District, Daejeon, appeared quiet without any election banners or campaign vehicles. Photo by Moon Hyewon

Among the younger generation, fatigue, disappointment, indifference, and avoidance toward mainstream politics were palpable. A university student met at Chungnam National University in Daejeon said, "I was disappointed because I couldn't see any real pledges for young people in this presidential election," but added, "I still want to vote, at least to send a message to politicians that they should prepare properly for the next election."

On May 26, Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, campaigned by playing loud music from his campaign vehicle in the middle of a busy intersection in Dunsandong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, but after observing for about an hour, it was clear that most people paid little attention to the campaign. Dunsandong is a newly emerging center of Daejeon, where the Daejeon Government Complex, large department stores, major supermarkets, and large apartment complexes are all clustered together.

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, is campaigning on the 26th by playing loud music from his campaign vehicle in the middle of a busy intersection in Dunsandong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, while pedestrians pass by in front of it. Daejeon - Photo by Moon Hyewon

Daejeon is also known as a city of education. In addition to KAIST, there are many universities such as Chungnam National University, Paichai University, Woosong University, and Daejeon University, as well as numerous specialized high schools like science and foreign language high schools. A local politician explained, "People in Daejeon tend not to express their inner thoughts openly due to social and cultural characteristics," adding, "Even within families, it's common not to share or pressure each other about whom to vote for."

Elderly residents in their seventies, encountered at Yuseong Oncheon Culture Street, were hesitant to speak at first. One elderly man started by saying, "I don't really know who I should vote for," to which the woman next to him replied, "Kim Moonsoo (the People Power Party's presidential candidate) will probably do well. I just can't trust Lee Jaemyung."

On the other hand, Lee Minju (pseudonym), a woman in her fifties met while out for a walk, introduced herself as a passionate supporter of the Democratic Party and showed off her blue nail art. She said, "Since Yoon Suk-yeol did wrong, I'll vote for the Democratic Party this time."

The Chungcheong region, including Daejeon, tends to be politically centrist, and voting preferences often shift depending on the issues at stake, making it a "casting vote" region in every major election. In this presidential election, the number of eligible voters has increased compared to the 20th presidential election, making the region even more important and drawing greater attention from the major candidates.

On the 26th, promotional posters of the 21st presidential election candidates are posted behind the entrance of Yuseong Oncheon Culture Street. Daejeon=Photo by Moon Hyewon