Early End to Election Campaign... Verbal Slurs, Uppercuts, and High Kicks Appear

Ruling and Opposition Presidential Candidates' Impromptu Actions Spark Daily Extreme Remarks... From Hitler to Cow Thief

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The language and behavior of presidential candidates are becoming increasingly aggressive. They are even staging so-called "presidential election actions" such as uppercuts and high kicks. While some evaluate this as a strategy to rally their support base and energize the campaign atmosphere, others warn that it could become a risk factor and fuel conflicts.

As official election campaigns began, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party candidate, showed confidence on the ground. The increasing proportion of impromptu speeches without a script is one indication of this.

On the first day of the campaign, Yoon spontaneously performed an "uppercut ceremony" in Busan, which later became his trademark. He continued to throw uppercuts daily during campaigns in Gyeonggi, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam regions.

Not to be outdone, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, showcased a kicking ceremony. On the 19th during a campaign in Jeonju, he said, "I will completely crush the petty (small) COVID-19," while raising his leg. The Democratic Party campaign committee named Lee's kick the "booster shoot."

It would be fortunate if these remained mere performances, but concerns arise as they lead to more extreme remarks. In fact, Yoon criticized the ruling party, which called his "deep-rooted corruption investigation remarks" political retaliation, by using the word "Hitler." Yoon said, "You know fascists like Hitler and Mussolini? They are the best at framing others," and likened it to "the tactics used by communists."

Lee retaliated by calling Yoon a "cow thief." Targeting Yoon's refusal to wear a mask during street campaigns, he said, "A needle thief becomes a cow thief." Especially mentioning the "Choi Soon-sil state affairs manipulation," he repeatedly raised suspicions of shamanism, saying, "(Yoon) is trying to return to a primitive society far more backward than the past," and called the opposition "old-fashioned."

The rhetoric from the leadership of the two major parties is also becoming harsher. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, called Lee a "beef thief," and former lawmaker Na Kyung-won referred to Lee's family as a "parasite family." Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, compared Yoon to a "president who drinks well" and a "plant president," while floor leader Yoon Ho-jung called him a "candidate soaked in the desire for power monopoly."

In political circles, there are concerns that the harsh language and behavior of the two major party candidates could lead to political disgust. In a recent public opinion poll conducted by the National Election Commission, only 39.8% responded that "this presidential election is being conducted cleanly." Regarding the reasons, 34.4% cited "mutual slander and black propaganda by party candidates" as the problem.

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