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 15 (Korea Bizwire) — Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung held a campaign rally in South Jeolla Province on Thursday, while People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo apologized for the failed martial law bid by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, with less than three weeks to go before the presidential election.
Lee, Kim and Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party have formed a three-way race for the June 3 presidential vote to pick a successor to Yoon, who was ousted over his failed martial law bid. So far, the DP’s Lee has maintained a comfortable lead in opinion polls.
A National Barometer Survey conducted this week showed that Lee of the DP was leading Kim with 49 percent support against Kim’s 27 percent, with the minor party’s Lee in third with 7 percent.
South Jeolla Province is considered a stronghold for the DP, and Kim of the PPP, which remains at odds over Yoon’s ouster, issued his second public apology for Yoon’s failed martial law bid.
In Seoul, Kim said he “sincerely” apologized for Yoon’s martial law debacle, in an apparent move to broaden his support base as he struggled to catch up with the DP candidate.
Lee of the DP kicked off the fourth day of his official campaign by holding live YouTube talks with the youth at Hwagae Market in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, to address concerns related to employment, housing and child care.
Lee then traveled to the cities of Gwangyang, Yeosu and Suncheon, and is set to visit Mokpo in Jeolla Province, commonly known as Honam, a traditional support base of the liberal DP, to appeal to voters.
During the rally in Gwangyang, Lee criticized Yoon, saying he had mistaken his presidential position for that of a king.
Lee also said he is considering the name “People’s Sovereignty Government” for his administration if elected.
“I am thinking over what to call the next government, and I think its symbol will be the people’s sovereignty,” he said.
In a Facebook post, Lee also expressed his “sincere” gratitude to teachers and acknowledged their dedication in guiding students in commemoration of Teacher’s Day, which fell on Thursday.
Kim of the PPP, on the other hand, focused on the Seoul metropolitan area the same day, starting off with a breakfast meeting on artificial intelligence (AI) and corporate strategies at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business.
During the meeting, Kim pledged to amend the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which penalizes employers and corporations for fatal accidents in public places.
“If I become the decision-maker, I will make sure that this harmful law no longer disturbs you,” Kim said.
Kim then visited Sindorim Station in southwestern Seoul to greet commuters.
He also held a luncheon meeting with Joseph Yun, acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea, at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in central Seoul, and discussed various issues, including the bilateral alliance, trade and North Korea’s nuclear program.
Kim’s emphasis on economic and foreign policy issues reflects his strategy to appeal to voters in the Seoul metropolitan area, who tend to be less influenced by regional sentiment and are more sensitive to policies.
Kim campaigned in Daegu, Busan and other parts of the Yeongnam region in the country’s southeast earlier this week to rally support from conservative voters before returning to Seoul.
On Friday, he plans to visit Pangyo in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, and the nearby cities of Suwon and Hwaseong before visiting the central cities of Cheonan, Sejong, Cheongju and Daejeon.
(Yonhap)
