[Presidential Election D-1] Yoon Seok-yeol Raises Regime Change Argument, Throws 'Uppercut' from Jeju to Seoul

Canceled Jeju Visit Resumed
Afternoon Garden in Busan and Daegu
Then Stops in Daejeon
Seoul Finale Campaign Rally

People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol is performing an uppercut ceremony at the Jeju Island base campaign rally titled "Winning Together with Jeju," held around Dongmun Market in Jeju City on the 8th. 2022.3.8 [Joint Coverage] [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee, Juni Park, Juhee Kang, Hyunji Kwon] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, visited Jeju on the final day of the election campaign on the 8th to appeal for last-minute support. Starting from Jeju, Yoon will conduct a campaign tour along the Gyeongbu Line, visiting Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Seoul.

During a campaign event in Ildo-dong, Jeju City, Yoon expressed his thoughts, saying, "I, who do not know the political grammar or arithmetic of Yeouido, have completed a marathon journey and run into the stadium just before the finish line," and emphasized his determination for regime change by stating, "If democracy where servants properly serve their masters is not established, there will be no development of the Republic of Korea."

He had previously canceled his Jeju schedule but hurriedly visited Jeju after controversy arose. Seeming aware of this controversy, Yoon emphasized, "I will change Jeju," and added, "I will make Jeju a place where global talents flock." He also praised Jeju by saying, "The Fourth Industrial Revolution can be led if small research institutes and networks are established," and called Jeju the "optimal location." Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong and People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok joined him on stage to encourage support from Jeju residents. In the afternoon, Yoon visited the traditional conservative strongholds of Busan and Daegu. As a conservative party candidate, Yoon's campaign visits to the Yeongnam region totaled 31 times since the official campaign period began on the 15th of last month. This included 6 visits to Busan, 1 to Ulsan, 8 to Gyeongnam, 6 to Daegu, and 10 to Gyeongbuk. Yoon, who had appealed for support as the "Son of Chungcheong," later visited Daejeon, promising to develop Daejeon into a Fourth Industrial Revolution special city and Sejong into an administrative capital. Visits to the central Chungcheong region, once considered a "casting vote" area, totaled 13 times (2 in Daejeon, 1 in Sejong, 3 in Chungbuk, and 7 in Chungnam).

Yoon will hold his final on-site campaign rally at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, and former Governor Won will attend the final rally, but lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo will not participate. The plan for a "one team" campaign rally has inevitably encountered setbacks. When asked about his attendance, Hong replied, "I am having a health checkup for the first time in three years." Afterward, Yoon will continue greeting people on the streets from Konkuk University Station to Gangnam Station until 11 p.m. Analyzing Yoon’s movement during the campaign period shows that, unlike previous conservative candidates, he held a total of 7 campaign events in the Honam region: 4 in Jeonbuk, 2 in Jeonnam, and 1 in Gwangju. Yoon visited the birthplace of the late former President Kim Dae-jung on Huidong Island, Sinan County, Jeonnam, and expressed, "I am closer to DJ’s spirit than Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Party." The People Power Party also pledged to attract a complex shopping mall to Gwangju, which drew support from younger voters.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is appealing for support at a campaign rally held on the 7th at Ansan Culture Square in Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

From the 5th to the 7th, Yoon visited five districts in Seoul and 17 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province to appeal for support. Seeming to be mindful of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate who served as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province, Yoon sharply criticized the Daejang-dong development corruption and the government’s failure in real estate policies. The early voting rate in Gyeonggi was 33.7%, the lowest among regions, suggesting that there are still many undecided voters. Meanwhile, on election day, Yoon plans to stay at home and watch the vote count results.

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