This combined photo taken May 12, 2025, shows the presidential candidates of South Korea’s major political parties — (from L to R) Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative New Reform Party — making stump speeches in Hwaseong, south of Seoul; the southeastern city of Daegu; and Seoul, respectively. The 22-day official campaign period for the June 3 presidential election kicked off the same day. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Three presidential candidates made their strong push to woo voters in the nation’s conservative strongholds Tuesday, the second day of their official campaigns, with the election just 21 days away.
The June 3 presidential election, triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid in December, is seen as a three-way race among Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party (DP), Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP) and Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party.
In various opinion polls, Lee of the DP is the front-runner with some 50 percent support.
Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province are recognized as the PPP’s strongholds.
Hitting the trail to the region, Lee of the DP sought to win back centrist voters.
“I was born and raised in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, but why can’t I get 20 percent support in this area?” Lee said during his campaign rally at Gumi Station.
Pointing out that Gumi is the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee, Lee said he had thought of Park as a “bad person who committed judicial murder, used torture and suppressed democracy.”
“But on the other hand, doesn’t he deserve credit for leading the country’s industrialization?” he added.
The trip to the traditionally challenging Yeongnam region in the country’s southeast just three days after visiting the area is widely seen as an appeal to both regional and centrist voters.
Kim of the PPP rallied for conservative support as he visited Daegu, Ulsan and Busan.
Starting off his campaign stop by paying tribute at the National Sinam Memorial Park in Daegu, Kim attended a ceremony to launch the party’s regional campaign committee at the PPP’s office in Daegu before heading to Ulsan to visit local outlets and traditional markets.
“I used to strongly oppose former President Park and was even arrested for it, but I recently realized I was wrong,” Kim said. “I was once a person who spat on Park’s grave, but now I lay flowers on it.”
Park’s legacy remains highly contested in South Korea, with conservatives praising him for spearheading rapid economic development and liberals criticizing his crackdowns on the pro-democracy movement.
Kim will then visit the Busan International Finance Center and later attend an event by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions at the PPP’s Busan office. His campaign will conclude with a visit to Jagalchi Market in Busan.
Kim’s move is seen as an effort to solidify conservative support in the Yeongnam region while highlighting his focus on boosting the local economy, which is his primary campaign pledge.
Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party started the day with a campaign rally in the streets of Daegu before having a meal with students at a cafeteria at Kyungpook National University.
He will then hold a policy meeting on health care at the Daegu Medical Association Hall and meet with merchants at Chilseong Market.
Meanwhile, the DP said it plans to report Kim to the police on charges of violating the Political Funds Act by raising some 170 million won (US$119,340) in profit through global video streaming platform YouTube’s Super Chat from 2019 to 2022.
Super Chat refers to a monetization feature on YouTube, which allows creators to raise revenue with highlighted messages during a live-streaming chat with their viewers.
Kim has operated his own YouTube channel since May 2019.
“Personal donations via Super Chat strongly resemble illegal political funds,” DP Rep. Park Beom-gye said, noting the National Election Commission had previously confirmed the illegality of the YouTube function in relation to political funding.
“If Kim was unaware of this, it shows he is unfit to be a politician, and if he knowingly continued to receive large Super Chat donations, then he has shamelessly committed illegal acts,” Park said.
On the other hand, the PPP accused the DP of conducting a “smear campaign,” claiming Super Chat revenues are not considered illicit political funding.
(Yonhap)
