[Report] Kim Moonsoo Makes Last-Minute Push in Hongdae and Gangnam... Targets Youth with "Cheek Hearts" and "V" Signs

Active Engagement with Youth in Popular Spots Hongdae and Gangnam
One Hour of Photo Sessions Amid Enthusiastic Support

"Fair and square, fair and square, number two Kim Moonsoo will become the president of the Republic of Korea~"

At 9:50 p.m. on June 2, Hongdae Walking Street in Mapo-gu, Seoul was filled with the singing voices of supporters who had gathered to cheer for Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party.

On this day, just one day before the main voting for the 21st presidential election, Kim rushed to the streets of Hongdae, a popular area among young people, immediately after finishing his final campaign rally at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall, to make a last-minute appeal for support.

Kim visited Hongdae in order to win even a single additional vote from the 2030 generation, which has been considered his weakest support base, until the official end of the campaign period at 11:59 p.m. on June 2.

Although he could not make a speech on the platform after 9 p.m., the legal deadline for using microphones under the Public Official Election Act, supporters who had gathered to take photos with Kim packed the street. The late-night crowd of citizens and supporters in Hongdae created a chaotic scene.

Wearing a red baseball jersey with "Number 2 Kim Moonsoo" written on it, Kim climbed the stairs of a nearby karaoke building and made a "V" sign with his fingers as he took commemorative photos with each supporter.

Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is taking a commemorative photo with citizens around Hongik University in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

Young people in their 20s and 30s, who were walking down the street, waited their turn with excited expressions to take photos with Kim, creating a unique scene. As existing supporters and young people mingled, the photo poses varied widely. In addition to the "V" sign symbolizing number 2, there were also "cheek hearts" and "flower cup" poses.

As requests for photos poured in, Kim continued to take pictures in the same spot for about an hour. Supporters dressed in red chanted slogans such as "Kim Moonsoo President" and "Republic of Korea" to the beat of drums.

Kim Yongtae, the acting chairman of the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee, as well as co-campaign chairs Na Kyungwon and Yang Hyangja, accompanied Kim at the scene. Lawmakers Lee Manhee, Cho Jeonghun, Lee Heonseung, and Park Chungkwon of the People Power Party also joined, adding to the excitement on site.

Even after Kim left for the area near Gangnam Station by car, supporters continued to chant "Kim Moonsoo President" for some time, keeping the festive atmosphere alive.

Arriving at Exit 12 of Gangnam Station at 11 p.m., Kim declared that he would secure victory before the official campaign period ended at midnight. He had originally planned to hold a street rally at Sinnonhyeon Station at 10:20 p.m., but the schedule was changed due to delays in the Hongdae rally.

While Kim was taking photos with citizens, his wife Seol Nanyeong also joined him. During the photo session, Seol was seen wiping the sweat from a young citizen's face.

Earlier, at the final campaign rally held at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall, Kim appeared on stage with his wife Seol, their daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.

Kim appealed for support, saying, "I want to be a president who makes every family happy, a president who creates families where everyone is happy. I will be an honest president. I want to be a clean president."

At the final rally, most of the citizens gathered were middle-aged and older, but there were also young people in red clothing and some children holding their parents' hands, all chanting Kim's name. Many supporters holding mint-colored balloons with the name of Lee Nakyon, the standing advisor of the New Future Democratic Party, were also spotted.

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is greeting citizens and supporters around Hongik University in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News