Yeo Presidential Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol Heads to Gwangju, Choi Jae-hyung to Busan

Strategic Choice for External Expansion and Securing Intra-Party Support Base

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] On Constitution Day, the 17th, Yoon Seok-yeol, former Prosecutor General and a presidential candidate from the opposition, and Choi Jae-hyung, former Auditor General, each visited Gwangju and Busan, respectively, showing on-site activities.

Yoon, who continues his off-site activities, chose Gwangju, while Choi, who recently joined the People Power Party, selected Busan. These are interpreted as strategic choices for expanding their outreach and securing support bases within the party, respectively.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the same day, Yoon paid respects at the Gwangju 5·18 Democratic Cemetery, honoring the spirits of the victims. Speaking with reporters, he mentioned the "han (resentment)" of Gwangju and became emotional. Having worked at the Gwangju District Prosecutor's Office in 2003, he said, "Coming here after 20 years, I thought much would have changed and that the resentment of the local people would have eased, but entering the cemetery, I myself was overwhelmed with emotion."

He then held a meeting with those detained during the democratization movement and toured the old Jeonnam Provincial Office area to seek common ground with local public sentiment. However, his visit to Chungjang-ro was canceled due to repeated protests by the University Student Progressive Union.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the same time, Choi, who visited Busan, participated in a volunteer activity picking up trash with party members from the Haeundae-eul district of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Mi-ae. Choi’s wife, Lee So-yeon, also accompanied him.

At the event, Choi said, "It was truly a happy day to clean the streets by picking up trash together with our party comrades despite the rain." Choi is from Jinhae, Gyeongnam, and it is expected that he will expand his party base centered on the conservative stronghold of 'Bu-Ul-Gyeong' (Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, PK).

Within the People Power Party, candidates Yoo Seung-min and Ha Tae-kyung carried out security-related activities using the 'Marin On helicopter accident' as a focal point.

Yoo attended the 3rd anniversary memorial service for the Marin On fallen at the 1st Marine Division in Pohang, comforting the bereaved families and strongly urging the authorities to investigate the cause of the accident and punish those responsible. He also promised, "I will build a country that fulfills its duties and responsibilities to the people."

Ha, who attended the memorial service at Daejeon National Cemetery, wrote on social media, "We must break the vicious cycle of patchwork repairs after accidents, resuming operations, and then accidents happening again," adding, "I will create a country where soldiers do not suffer unjust sacrifices."

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