Lee Jun-seok "Why do you think Honam's change is limited to 'Idaenam'... The ruling party demonizes conservatives"

Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, targeted the Democratic Party regarding the increased support for conservative parties in the Honam region compared to the past, asking, "Why do you think the change in Honam is limited only to men in their 20s?"

On the afternoon of the 25th, Lee stated on his Facebook, "The Democratic Party, which considered Honam votes as votes kept in their pocket and used election strategies that demonized conservatives with issues unrelated to people’s livelihoods, now seems to be starting to compete for the future since no disparagement or mistakes regarding May 18 have come from the People Power Party throughout the election."

Earlier, during an evening campaign in Chungjang-ro, Gwangju, Lee emphasized, "The People Power Party preparing for tomorrow will never exclude Gwangju and Honam," and added, "Please sound the alarm to the Democratic Party, which mistakenly believes it monopolizes the Honam vote after this election. The moment the flag is planted in the March 9 presidential election, regional politics will change."

He continued, "The complex shopping mall in Gwangju is shaking up the political scene," explaining, "The complex shopping mall is a very small yet symbolic expression of rights that were deprived due to the logic and interests of local political bosses. This discourse, which costs no budget and whose necessity in politics is uncertain, has already become a stronghold in the fight against the cartelized local politics of Gwangju."

He raised his voice, saying, "We are still not in a position to field many candidates who receive Gwangju’s choice in local elections and National Assembly elections. However, every vote you show in the presidential election will be recorded and will shake the local political bosses of Gwangju."

Furthermore, he appealed for support, stating, "Just like the young generation’s vote in 2021, which silenced the mouths of many political pundits in Yeouido who ignored the young generation and led politics according to their inertia, please flatten the noses of those who say the People Power Party’s efforts for Gwangju and Honam in 2022 are meaningless and those who label supporters of the complex shopping mall as right-wing populists."

Meanwhile, according to a public opinion poll conducted by Korea Gallup commissioned by kbc Gwangju Broadcasting and UPI News targeting 1,003 residents aged 18 and over in Gwangju, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, received 67.5% support across all generations, while Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, was recorded at 11.8%.

The poll was conducted over two days from the 21st to the 22nd using a mixed method of landline and mobile phone interviews (landline RDD 10.5%, mobile virtual number 89.5%). The response rate was 14.2%, and the sampling error was ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

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