Official Election Campaign Starts... "Overcoming National Crisis" "Judgment on the Regime"

First Schedule at Local District Mart and Gwanghwamun Square
Government "Strict Crackdown on Illegal Election Campaigning and Fake News"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Jo In-kyung, Sung Ki-ho, Kang Na-hum] On the 2nd, the official start day of the 21st National Assembly general election campaign, both ruling and opposition parties launched large-scale rallies in Seoul, the most fiercely contested battleground, to actively court voters. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the parties began their campaigns in a calm atmosphere.

The Democratic Party of Korea held a general election kickoff event titled "Protecting the People" in the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, together with the Together Citizens' Party in the afternoon. The event was attended by the leadership of both parties, including Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan, COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Committee Chair Lee Nak-yeon, and Together Citizens' Party's co-chairpersons Lee Jong-gul, Choi Bae-geun, and Woo Hee-jong.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Chair Lee officially began his campaign at midnight by visiting a mart in Jongno-gu, Seoul, his electoral district. In the morning, he attended a press club debate where he expressed his policies and convictions. At the debate, he stated that defining this election as a "judgment on the opposition" is no longer a recent stance of the party, saying, "I understand that the opposition judgment theory has not been mentioned by the party recently. It disappeared quite some time ago." He added, "Overcoming the national crisis is the party's official election goal, and the opposition judgment theory is inappropriate." The leadership and candidates of the Together Citizens' Party also began their official campaign at midnight at the Anyang Postal Logistics Center in Gyeonggi Province, together with workers.

The United Future Party also started campaigning in Seoul. Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn began his schedule at midnight in front of the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul. Kim Jong-in, the general election committee chair, along with Future Korea Party leader Won Yoo-chul, held their first official campaign events at Dongdaemun Market.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At 5:45 a.m., Leader Hwang began his full-fledged campaign by greeting residents at the village bus terminal in Okindong, Jongno-gu. Chair Kim started a meeting of the Gyeonggi regional election committee at the Gyeonggi Provincial Party Office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, at 11 a.m., followed by campaign support activities in the province.

The United Future Party has defined this election as a "judgment on the regime" and is mobilizing all efforts. Park Hyung-joon, co-chair of the United Future Party's election committee, said on a radio broadcast that morning, "This election will be a showdown between those who want to save Cho Kuk and remove Yoon Seok-yeol, and those who want to expose the regime's hypocrisy and protect Yoon Seok-yeol."

The Minsaeng Party also held a kickoff event titled "Only Livelihood" at the Garak-dong Agricultural and Marine Products Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, at midnight, with candidates including Standing Election Committee Chair Sohn Hak-kyu. Chair Sohn then traveled to Gwangju to pay respects at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery.

Justice Party Standing Election Committee Chair Shim Sang-jung visited the Jichuk Train Depot in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, the starting point of subway operations, at midnight to encourage late-night workers. The Justice Party held a kickoff event in Incheon Yeonsu-gu, the electoral district of lawmaker Lee Jeong-mi, in the morning.

People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo planned to continue his nationwide campaign tour. The People's Party launched street campaigns under the theme "Always by the People's Side."

Meanwhile, the government announced a strong crackdown policy on illegal election campaigning and the spread of fake news. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, and Minister of the Interior and Safety Jin Young held a public briefing at the Government Complex Seoul on the morning of the 2nd to announce this. The ministers stated, "We will thoroughly crack down on illegal and quasi-illegal election activities, focusing especially on bribery and fake news in cyberspace, and impose strict penalties."

Regarding COVID-19 prevention measures, disinfection and sterilization will be conducted throughout all voting and counting stations before and after the election, and voters showing symptoms on election day will be allowed to vote in separate booths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.