April 7 By-Election Fate Day... Ruling and Opposition Parties Appeal for Last-Minute Supporter Mobilization

Democratic Party: "Choose the Best or Second-Best Candidate"
People Power Party: "Opposition Will Win by a Significant Margin"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The by-elections for 21 locations nationwide, including the mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan, simultaneously began at 6 a.m. on the 7th at 3,459 local polling stations. With various implications such as evaluating the four years of the Moon Jae-in administration and determining the next presidential race landscape, both ruling and opposition parties appealed to their support bases to unite until the very end. The Democratic Party of Korea mentioned public sentiment and reflection, while the People Power Party expressed confidence in victory.

Lee Nak-yeon, the Standing Election Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, is greeting before holding a press conference to encourage voting for the April 7 by-elections at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee Nak-yeon, the Standing Election Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference at the National Assembly that morning, urging, "Please calmly consider the future of the Republic of Korea and choose either the best candidate or the next best candidate," emphasizing, "If you do not vote, the likelihood of a candidate you do not want being elected increases." Kim Tae-nyeon, the acting party leader, also stated at the same venue, "We will listen more and reflect with a humble attitude."

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, after voting at the Pyeongchang 3 polling station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, said, "Considering the considerable anger of ordinary citizens during the election process, I believe citizens will actively participate in voting," and added, "As expected, I think Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, will win by a significant margin." Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, appeared on YTN Radio’s ‘Hwang Bo-seon’s Start Morning’ and said, "If we do not achieve a landslide victory in this election, the opposition party will no longer have any reason to exist, so the People Power Party must win."

Major candidates from both parties also appealed for voters’ support through social media (SNS). Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, said, "The sincere feelings of the citizens are gathering," and added, "Until the last moment, I, Park Young-sun, will steadily move forward with you toward victory." After finishing his campaign, candidate Oh expressed his thoughts on SNS, appealing, "The power to change the future comes from voting," and urged, "Please resolve the pent-up feelings about politics through voting."

On the 7th, the day of the April 7 by-election, Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and his wife, Kim Mi-kyung, Honorary Professor at Ewha Womans University, are voting at the Pyeongchang 3 polling station set up at Javier International School in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Kim Young-choon, the Democratic Party candidate challenging for Busan mayor, stated on SNS after finishing his campaign, "Your precious votes will come together to create a great comeback in Busan." Park Hyung-joon, the People Power Party candidate, said, "There was overwhelming support from many Busan citizens," and added, "That passionate voice of support was a command to judge the administration and revive Busan."

Meanwhile, the National Election Commission announced that the voter turnout for the by-elections was 12.2% as of 11 a.m. This is 3.5 percentage points lower than the 15.7% turnout at the same time during the 2018 local elections. The turnout was recorded at 12.7% in Seoul and 11.6% in Busan.

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