Honam 'Non-Democratic Party' Candidates' Strategy of 'Deep Bow Pleas' in the Late Election Stage

Jeong Dong-young, the Minsheng Party candidate running for Jeonbuk Jeonju-si Byeong, is appealing for support at the entrance intersection of Manseong District, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk on the 8th.
Photo by Yoon Dong-joo, Jeonbuk Jeonju doso7@

[Jeonju (Jeonbuk) = Asia Economy reporter Wondara] As the Democratic Party of Korea predicts a 'sweep of Honam,' competing candidates running in the Jeonbuk and Jeonnam constituencies are continuing their 'deep bow campaigns.' This is because they want to appeal to residents for votes with an 'appeal strategy' in the latter half of the general election.

Cheon Jeong-bae, the Minsaeng Party candidate (Gwangju Seo-gu Eul), started his campaign with a deep bow at Daeju Intersection on the morning of the 9th and began a '3000 bows campaign' during rush hours. Candidate Cheon, while performing the 3000 bows, appealed for support saying, "Please stop the sweep, we are all part of the same family anyway (with the Democratic Party), so why is the party so important? Please vote based on the person."

Jeong Dong-young, Minsaeng Party candidate (Jeonju-si Byeong), has been performing 'deep bows at intersections' to local residents every day since the 6th. During rush hour, he walks around the crosswalk at Manseong District Entrance Intersection, where many industrial complexes are located, and bows deeply to the stopped cars every time the green light turns on. Candidate Jeong continues this deep bow campaign during afternoon rallies as well. His campaign team said, "He performs more than 500 bows during the two-hour morning rush campaign."

Candidate Yoon So-ha. (=Candidate Yoon So-ha's homepage)

Candidate Kim Kwan-young. (=Candidate Kim Kwan-young Facebook)

Yoon So-ha, Justice Party candidate (Mokpo City), also performed the Samboilbae (three steps, one bow) on the 6th. Yoon’s campaign team said, "Over the past four years, we have been working in the legislature to establish a medical school at Mokpo National University," and added, "We ask the citizens of Mokpo to support us so that the establishment of Mokpo National University Medical School is not canceled." Independent candidate Kim Kwan-young, formerly of the People’s Party (Gunsan), is also performing the 'Palpalbae' (88 bows) in front of his campaign office and during street campaigns. Kim’s team said, "We perform the Palpalbae, symbolizing the citizens’ wish for economic revitalization in Gunsan and our candidate number 8," and added, "We have been doing this every day since the 5th, except for the day of the debate."

The deep bow campaigns by these candidates are interpreted as a sign of anxiety due to the Democratic Party candidates’ strong performance in the Honam region. During election seasons, deep bows have been a means for candidates to express their desperation. In the 17th general election held right after the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun, then Democratic Party election committee chairperson Choo Mi-ae performed the Samboilbae to apologize for the Democratic Party’s support of the impeachment motion.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is confident of sweeping Honam in this general election. Although they only secured three seats in the 20th general election in 2016 due to the surge of the People’s Party, the Democratic Party now views 26 out of 28 constituencies as either strongholds or competitive strongholds. Former Presidential Secretary Im Jong-seok visited Gwangju, Suncheon, Jangheung, and Mokpo consecutively on the 6th and 7th, urging, "This general election will determine whether the Moon Jae-in administration’s second half will be stable or chaotic," and appealed, "Honam should stand at the center of the Moon Jae-in regime’s re-creation."

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