General Election D-1, Turbulent Busan Situation ... "We Won't Know Until We Open It" (Comprehensive)

In Busanjin-gap, considered the biggest battleground in Busan, Kim Young-choon of the Democratic Party of Korea and Suh Byung-soo of the United Future Party are each appealing to citizens for last-minute support.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] With the 21st National Assembly election just one day away, Busan, once known as a conservative stronghold, has become the fiercest battleground, shrouded in thick fog. Recently, along with the Seoul metropolitan area, support for the Democratic Party of Korea has risen in Busan, making it the most volatile area nationwide.

On the 14th, Kim Young-choon, Jeon Jae-soo, Bae Jae-jung, and other standing committee members of the Democratic Party's Busan election committee declared, "The one-party monopoly has blocked Busan's development for the past 30 years," and pledged, "We will achieve Busan's development through competitive politics."

The Democratic Party won 5 seats in the 2016 general election, marking its best performance since the three-party merger, and has overcome 'regionalism' with landslide victories in the presidential and local elections. Accordingly, in this general election, they are determined to win more than half of Busan's 18 seats?10 districts?to completely overcome regionalism and create a new political landscape where competition is possible.

To this end, they are calling themselves "the ruling party with the power to lead Busan's development." Messages sent to citizens up to the eve of the election included success in local long-standing projects such as the "undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line." Earlier, party leader Lee Hae-chan visited Busan and promised this pledge at the central party level, emphasizing the ruling party's responsibility to lead regional development by undergrounding the Gyeongbu Line, which has divided Busan for over 100 years.

The United Future Party emphasized that having overcome conservative division and achieved unification, they will mobilize the organization and network built over the past 30 years to reclaim political power in their stronghold, Busan. They repeatedly stressed the current government's failures over the past three years in economy, diplomacy, and security, shouting the "judgment of the Moon Jae-in administration."

They first highlighted the repeated failures of key economic policies such as income-led growth and the 52-hour workweek. It is analyzed that Busan, with many small and medium-sized enterprises and small merchants, has stirred public sentiment most affected by government economic policies. Although the Moon Jae-in government proposed the railway from Busan Station to Eurasia as a new economic vision, they also pointed out problems with the currently stalled North Korea policy.

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon's mention of a new airport also became a target of criticism. The Gimhae New Airport project, decided under the Park Geun-hye administration, was halted by the Moon Jae-in government, and although the Prime Minister's Office promised a re-examination of the Gimhae New Airport, no action was taken, drawing heavy criticism.

They raised issues of government morality by pointing out allegations of cover-up in the inspection of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who is from Busan, and former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-soo. Toward the end of the election, they delivered the message that this election is a choice between "saving Cho Kuk or saving the economy." Recently, they condemned remarks by pro-government figures like Yoo Si-min about the "180 seats," calling them "arrogant" and saying "a heavy blow must be dealt."

Both parties, the "powerful ruling party (Democratic Party)" and the "judgment of the Moon Jae-in administration (United Future Party)," view this election as a "close contest." Early in the election, the "judgment of the administration" gained momentum due to economic issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and controversies surrounding former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, but public sentiment shifted significantly as evaluations of the government's COVID-19 response changed.

Concerns about future economic instability are also growing, and there is a possibility that conservative Busan voters may choose "stability" over "challenge," with both parties agreeing that the Democratic Party is performing well.

Accordingly, both the United Future Party, which had been confident of victory until recently, and the Democratic Party, which had spoken of a difficult election, internally judge that up to 10 districts will see a "neck-and-neck" fierce battle.

Meanwhile, on the last day of the general election, the United Future Party held a press conference hosted by the Busan election committee, bowing deeply and pleading with Busan citizens to "save us" and appeal for support.

The Democratic Party's Busan Election Committee also held a press conference at Song Sang-hyun Square in Busanjin-gu, shouting, "Democratic Party candidates for Busan's general election stand here today with desperate hearts. Please unite your strength behind the Democratic Party candidates for Busan's development."

The Justice Party Busan branch election committee, on the last day of campaigning, stated, "The United Future Party and the Democratic Party are the same in that they practice politics for vested interests," and urged, "Please vote for the Justice Party, which has realized what was thought impossible?from free school meals, abolition of special activity expenses, to the introduction of a mixed-member proportional representation system?so that the Justice Party can form a negotiating group."

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