Wild 2nd Cutoff D-8... All-Out Effort to Secure 'Jitto Rabbit'

Hong Joon-pyo, Yoo Seung-min, and Choi Jae-hyung Head to Daegu
Won Hee-ryong and Hwang Kyo-ahn to Busan

Preliminary candidates for the People Power Party's presidential primary are taking a commemorative photo at the 4th presidential primary broadcast debate held on the 28th at MBC in Sangam-dong, Seoul. From the left: Hwang Kyo-ahn, Yoo Seung-min, Choi Jae-hyung, Ahn Sang-soo, Ha Tae-kyung, Yoon Seok-youl, Hong Joon-pyo, and Won Hee-ryong. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] The presidential candidates of the People Power Party have launched a campaign to win over the 'conservative public sentiment' just over a week before the second round of the party primary cut-off. Their strategy is to secure the 'home base' in Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) and Busan-Gyeongnam (PK), where party members have a high proportion.

On the 30th, presidential candidates including Representative Hong Joon-pyo, former Representative Yoo Seung-min, and former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung headed to Daegu, known as the 'heart of conservatism.' Unlike the first cut-off held on the 8th of next month, which reflected only 20% of the party member opinion poll results, the second cut-off will increase the voting ratio of the party member electorate to 30%, making capturing party sentiment a key variable.

For Representative Hong, who is competing with former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl for the top spot in approval ratings, party sentiment has become very important. Although he has been on the rise in recent polls, his evaluation among People Power Party supporters is still relatively lower compared to former Prosecutor General Yoon. On this day, starting with the appointment ceremony of the 'jp Hope Camp' Daegu campaign committee, he will visit Chilseong Market and other locations. Representative Hong plans to return to Daegu on the 2nd of next month and visit Busan on the 3rd.

Former Chairman Choi plans to visit Seomun Market in Daegu to appeal for consolidation of his support base. He will then visit the birthplace of former President Park Geun-hye and spend time meeting Daegu citizens at Suseong Lake, engaging in close contact. The following day, he will climb Birobong Peak of Palgongsan Mountain in Daegu. Since former Chairman Choi has advocated for a full reconsideration of the Busan Gadeokdo New Airport, a policy that 'everyone agrees with but no one talks about,' the PK public sentiment is shaken, making support from TK crucial.

Former Representative Yoo will visit the Daegu Dong-gu branch of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, as well as the Suseong-gu, Nam-gu, and Jung-gu branches. Alongside this, he will visit local media outlets in Daegu and appear on a YouTube live broadcast. To break free from the so-called 'traitor frame,' former Representative Yoo has already visited Daegu four times this month alone, focusing on winning over Daegu public sentiment.

Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong and former Future United Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, who are aiming for the '4th place' position, have headed to Busan to solidify their support. Former Governor Won arrived in Busan the day before and held meetings with the Busan Party Youth Committee and University Student Committee, focusing on the 'youth demographic.' On this day, he visited party branches across Busan, including Haeundae-eul, Geumjeong-gu, Nam-gu, and Suyeong-gu, appealing for support. Former Leader Hwang also moved to Busan after being in Daegu the previous day, visiting Bujeon Market, greeting citizens on the streets of Haeundae and Dongbaek Island, and strengthening communication with the public.

Former Prosecutor General Yoon, meanwhile, received support through a luncheon with fellow party presidential candidate Representative Park Jin in Seoul and visited the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism to capture the 'Buddhist vote.'

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