"No Change in 5 Years" vs "No Amateur Politician as President" Conflicting Seoul Public Opinion

Public Opinion Shifts Toward Yoon Amid Strong Demand for Regime Change
Seongnam Mayor and Gyeonggi Governor Prefer Lee for Experience and Capability
Sense of Apathy Detected with 'Either Way, It's the Same' Sentiment

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 campaign held near Gangnam Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 16th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] With the 20th presidential election just 16 days away, the campaign competition between the two major party candidates is intensifying. Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, has been making increasingly strong remarks targeting the Democratic Party and its candidate Lee Jae-myung. Meanwhile, Lee has been emphasizing his image as a 'competent economic president' by highlighting his achievements and experience as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province.

As the first official campaign weekend on the 20th approached, our coverage of public sentiment in the Seoul area revealed that disappointment with the current government and the Democratic Party was strongly evident, with public opinion leaning slightly more toward regime change. Citizens were particularly angry about real estate issues, and showed lukewarm reactions to the recent supplementary budget approval led by the Democratic Party to provide 3 million won in quarantine support funds per small business owner.

On the other hand, there were also opinions that regime continuation was necessary. Expectations were high that candidate Lee, with his diverse experience in provincial and municipal administration, would manage state affairs better than Yoon, a political newcomer from the prosecution.

Kim (68), who runs a ginseng wholesale store at Hwagog Nambu Market in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, said, "I don't support any particular party. If I had to choose, I dislike the Democratic Party and, given the many failures of the government and ruling party so far, I lean a bit more toward the People Power Party." He added, "I used to support the Democratic Party, but I think I had too high expectations. Fundamentally, I believe the regime needs to change, and most people around me feel the same. Unless there is a major scandal or big mistake, I think the People Power Party will win."

Jung (51), a vegetable store owner, said, "I'm from Jeolla Province, and people from my hometown like the Democratic Party, but nothing has changed in five years, and life is very hard now. Especially with suspicions surrounding candidate Lee's spouse and son, as well as various allegations against him, I don't trust him. I want a fresh start from the beginning, so I will vote for the People Power Party."

Some citizens expressed skepticism about candidate Lee's cash welfare policies such as basic income. Jung (66), who has been running a business at Nambu Market for six years, said, "No one would refuse money if offered, but promises should be realistic and feasible. Who would believe those pledges?" He also criticized the Democratic Party's unilateral passage of the supplementary budget for small business quarantine support, saying, "Giving just 3 million won barely makes a difference, and pushing it through like a theft at 2 a.m. among themselves is excessive. They should have negotiated; that itself is the problem and only increases disappointment."

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is appealing for support at the 'Yoon Seok-yeol is Perfect for Anseong, Republic of Korea!' campaign held on the 17th in front of Jungang Market at Seoin Intersection in Anseong City, Gyeonggi Province. / Anseong - Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the other hand, many citizens highly valued candidate Lee's extensive administrative experience. Yoo (60), who runs a soft tofu restaurant, said, "Candidate Lee has made mistakes, but he also has achievements and a lot of political experience. Having been in office for a long time means he has at least done an average job. Looking at the history of the People Power Party whenever they have held power, I don't feel like voting for them again."

Another merchant, Song (50), said, "Who said Yoon Seok-yeol is a president nurtured by the people? With barely 40% approval, can we say the people raised him? I think someone like candidate Lee, who has experienced various situations, is better than an amateur who has only been a prosecutor with no political experience becoming president."

Some citizens also criticized Yoon's behavior, such as his 'legs wide apart' posture and putting his shoe on train seats. Kim (29), a resident of Mapo-gu, said, "Seeing such behavior repeatedly without correction has increased my dislike. If he becomes president, he will attend many diplomatic events like summits, and imagining him meeting other heads of state with that attitude is already disheartening. On the other hand, candidate Lee has never been involved in controversies over such behavior in official settings."

However, even those who had decided whom to vote for in this election often chose their candidate not because they liked them, but as a lesser evil. Many citizens felt, "There is no one I really like," or "It won't be much different whoever wins." Lee (35), a resident of Yangcheon-gu met at Mokdong Station, said, "Honestly, I don't like either the Democratic Party or the People Power Party. Has there ever been a presidential election this negative and noisy? I just wish they would stop slandering each other. Even within one household, if people only slander each other, whether the regime changes or stays, what kind of family would that be?"

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