Yoon Seok-yeol Visits Gwangju Three Weeks After Controversy Over 'Jeon Du-hwan Defense'

Visit Today... Strategy to Expand Centrist Votes
Possibility of Clashes at Protest Against Visit

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 56th National Women's Conference held at COEX in Seoul on the 9th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong (Gwangju), Park Juni] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, will visit Gwangju on the 10th. This comes about three weeks after his remarks defending former President Jeon Du-hwan. It appears to be a strategy to focus on expanding the 'centrist vote' now that he has secured party support. On this day, Yoon met face-to-face with Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, for the first time since the candidates were finalized.

In the afternoon, Yoon will pay respects at the Gwangju National May 18th Democratic Cemetery and meet with the victims' families. Initially, Yoon had considered visiting Gwangju to apologize immediately after the controversy over Jeon Du-hwan and the "apology for the apology" remarks, but postponed the visit until after the primary, mindful of the Yeongnam region's voter sentiment. Kwon Seong-dong, Yoon's chief of staff, explained on KBS Radio that "due to mistakes made during the primary, he sincerely promised to apologize and visit Gwangju again to fulfill that promise."

On the surface, it is a matter of fulfilling a promise, but as the final presidential candidate of the People Power Party, there is a need to broaden his appeal to centrists. However, some civic groups have opposed Yoon's visit to Gwangju and even threatened collective action, so the possibility of clashes cannot be ruled out. On the 11th, Yoon plans to visit the Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Prize Memorial Hall in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, and then move to Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, to pay respects at the late former President Roh Moo-hyun’s gravesite. Park Joo-sun, a former four-term lawmaker from Gwangju, said on CBS Radio that "since he is relatively new to politics, Gwangju citizens need to show generosity and dignity by taking his apology seriously."

On the morning of the same day, Yoon attended the 'Global Talent Forum' held at a hotel in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, where he officially faced Lee. Although the atmosphere was somewhat tense, they extended their hands toward each other. Lee congratulated Yoon, saying "Congratulations," and Yoon responded, "We often met in the Seongnam courthouse about 20 years ago." The two candidates reportedly exchanged whispers expressing a desire for "an opportunity to have direct dialogue." Shim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, also attended the forum, but Ahn Cheol-soo, the People's Party candidate, was absent, so a 'four-way meeting' did not take place.

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