Lee Jae-myung traveling to Honam: "I will be a crisis-overcoming president like DJ during the IMF"

Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party Candidate, Campaigns in Suncheon, Jeonnam
Targets Yoon Seok-yeol, People Power Party Candidate
"A Candidate Who Acts as If It's Natural Not to Know About State Affairs
Cannot Overcome the Crisis"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is greeting supporters after delivering a speech appealing for support at the 'JM is Gangnam Style!' election rally held near Gangnam Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 16th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun, Lee Myung-hwan] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, invoked former President Kim Dae-jung (DJ) to rally support among the Honam voter base. On the 18th, during a visit to Honam, Lee said, "During the International Monetary Fund (IMF) crisis, DJ was a prepared president who swiftly overcame the crisis," emphasizing, "Just as DJ did, I will definitely keep my promises and deliver."

At a campaign event on Yeonhyang Fashion Street in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, Lee mentioned former President Kim Dae-jung several times, stating, "I will be a president strong in times of crisis like DJ." Targeting Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, he appealed for support, saying, "A candidate who boasts as if it is natural to know nothing about state affairs cannot overcome a crisis." Lee added, "DJ dreamed of a world where democracy flourished and human rights and equality were guaranteed. I will complete that world."

Lee Nak-yeon, the Democratic Party’s overall campaign committee chairman, also lent his support. He stressed, "In a situation where confirmed COVID-19 cases have surpassed 100,000 and the country faces not only a pandemic crisis but also a livelihood crisis, a decisive and experienced government leader is needed, and Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is the right person." He said, "If you entrust a boat to someone who has never rowed, where will the boat go? You must entrust the country to a boatman who has crossed the river."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Starting with Suncheon on this day, the Democratic Party plans to conduct a 1-night, 2-day campaign tour in Honam, aiming for an 80% vote share in the region. Inside and outside the party, the stagnation of support in Honam, a traditional stronghold, is seen as a painful issue. In fact, although former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon joined as the standing overall campaign committee chairman on the 9th, Lee Jae-myung’s support rate in Honam remains in the 50-60% range.

Looking at the historical vote shares in Honam for presidents from the ruling party, President Moon Jae-in received 61.95% in 2017, President Roh Moo-hyun 93.4% in 2002, and President Kim Dae-jung 94.73% in 1997. In contrast, Lee Jae-myung’s support rate in the Gwangju and Jeolla regions is 58%. (According to the nationwide indicator survey (NBS) announced on the 17th by polling firms Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research; survey period from the 14th to 16th; survey target: 1,012 men and women aged 18 and over nationwide; margin of error ±3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence level; detailed information available on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.)

The Democratic Party’s strategy is to use this weekend’s campaign in Honam as a catalyst to consolidate support among the Honam voter base as the final stretch approaches. A first-term Democratic Party lawmaker representing a Honam district told this publication, "We will ignite a fire in Honam over the weekend and expand support nationwide," adding, "However, support among those in their 20s and 30s is not yet clear even in this region, so the campaign will focus on the 20s and 30s demographic." Another lawmaker from a Honam district said, "In Gwangju, citizens are agitated due to the regime retaliation frame and shamanism controversy, and voter consolidation is underway," adding, "The actual vote share for Lee will be higher than the poll results."

After campaigning in Suncheon on this day, Lee plans to travel to Mokpo, the hometown of the late former President Kim Dae-jung, and then move on to Naju. On the afternoon of the 19th, he is scheduled to hold a focused campaign rally at the Gwangju 5·18 Democracy Square.

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