Round and Round 'Gukjijeon' Park... Two Consecutive Days of VV 'Aerial Battle' Oh

Park Young-sun Focuses on Winning Back 2030 Votes Mainly Around Universities, Emphasizes Small Business Policies

Oh Se-hoon Campaigns Intensively in Conservative-Weak Areas, Starting from Eunpyeong and Gangseo to Gangdong on the First Day

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon, Lee Hyun-joo, Park Joon-i] On the second day of official election campaigning for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, candidates from both ruling and opposition parties are focusing their strategies on targeting demographic groups identified as weaknesses in various opinion polls. Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul mayoral candidate, is concentrating on small business owners, including moderate and youth voters, while Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, is visiting areas with relatively low conservative support to maximize engagement with citizens.

◆ Park Young-sun tours ‘university districts’ vs. Oh Se-hoon seeks areas with low conservative support = Reviewing Park candidate’s itinerary on the 25th and 26th, she is focusing on jobs, welfare, and real estate, mainly visiting university areas. Oh candidate visited the Gangbuk area, where conservative support is relatively weak, on the 25th, and on the 26th, he traversed Seoul from west to east. These areas are also regions where the People Power Party is at a disadvantage.

This is analyzed as a strategic decision based on the differing support bases of the two candidates. In a poll released the previous day, Oh candidate’s support among voters in their 20s reached 60.1%, nearly three times higher than Park candidate’s 21.1%. Conversely, among voters in their 40s, Oh candidate received 57.9% support, maintaining a lead over Park candidate’s 34.7%.

Wrapping up the previous day’s campaign, Park candidate said, "I want to meet many people in their 20s and 30s going forward." She emphasized, "I want to give courage regarding an uncertain future," adding, "I want to share pledges related to startups, childcare, and opportunities for home ownership with people in their 20s and 30s." On the morning of the same day on radio, Park candidate said, "Working moms are very worried about their children," and highlighted key pledges including half-price apartments, COVID-19 vaccinations for high school seniors, youth starter assets, and free kindergarten meals.

On the other hand, Oh candidate is in a position to break the ruling party’s solid support base. Although he holds an advantage in support across all age groups, as the election progresses, if the ruling party’s unity strengthens, it could become difficult to predict the outcome.

On the 26th, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, is greeting citizens on their way to work at Jeungmi Station Intersection on Yangcheon-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Accordingly, Oh candidate visited traditional markets to meet the solid 40s and 50s conservative base, focusing criticism on the Moon Jae-in administration’s real estate policies. Oh candidate mentioned real estate issues at every campaign event the previous day. On the second day, he started in the strongly progressive southwestern region and moved to the southeastern region. At the first campaign site of the day in Gangseo District, Oh candidate again raised the real estate issue, sharply stating, "It is 100% President Moon Jae-in’s fault that housing prices have risen like this."

◆ Campaign headquarters of both parties: "It’s not over until it’s over" = The ruling party is using the term ‘shy voters.’ On the same day, Noh Woong-rae, a senior member of the Democratic Party, appeared on CBS radio and said, "It is clear that the grassroots atmosphere is not good," but added, "However, if we emphasize ‘a failed mayor versus a prepared mayor,’ it is worth trying, and I believe there is a chance of winning." Jin Sung-joon, a lawmaker and head of the strategic planning committee for Park candidate’s campaign, also expressed confidence on KBS radio, saying, "Among passive supporters, there are those who do not actively respond to polls," and "If we demonstrate superiority in personality and policies, it is fully possible to catch up and even overturn the race."

Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, is taking a commemorative photo with an elementary school student while participating in traffic safety volunteer activities with members of the Green Mothers' Association in front of Bukgajwa Elementary School in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The People Power Party plans to leverage the argument for regime change while expanding toward moderate voters. They intend to actively highlight redevelopment and reconstruction issues that were blocked during the Moon administration and the late Park Won-soon’s tenure as Seoul mayor. Additionally, they are aiming for moderate votes by uniting the pan-opposition forces, including Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, and former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop. Kim Jong-in, the People Power Party’s emergency committee chairman, appeared on radio the same day and said, "Oh candidate is aware of how he fits into the flow of the times," adding, "Oh candidate himself leans significantly toward the moderate side," which seems to reflect this strategic necessity.

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