Park Minsik and Han Donghoon Hold Simultaneous Opening Ceremonies: Party Leadership Shows Full Support vs. Crowds of Local Residents

Jeon Jae-su Attends Ha Jungwoo's Opening Ceremony on the Same Day

On June 3rd, Park Minsik of the People Power Party and independent candidate Donghoon Han, who are both running in the by-election for the Bukgap constituency in Busan, each held their respective election office opening ceremonies at 2 p.m. on May 10.

Jang Donghyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, and other attendees shout "Fighting" at the opening ceremony of the election campaign office for Park Minsik, the candidate for the Bukgap by-election, held in Buk-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News.

The opening ceremony for Park Minsik’s campaign office was attended by the entire leadership of the People Power Party, demonstrating their strong support for the candidate. Among those present were Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, floor leader Song Eon-seok, Supreme Council members Kim Minsoo, Kim Jaewon, and Jo Gwanghan, as well as Secretary-General Jeong Heeyong.

Targeting his rivals, Park Minsik remarked, “No matter how capable or smart someone may be, if they wander from place to place and then announce their candidacy for Buk-gu National Assembly member just one month before the election, would the residents—from the elderly to the younger 2030 generation—really trust them? This is an act of disrespect toward the people of Buk-gu, and it is treating Gyeongsang Province as if it is insignificant. As a true Buk-gu native, I, Park Minsik, will respond with a decisive victory.”

The opening ceremony for Donghoon Han’s election office, located across from the entrance to Gupo Market in Buk-gu, Busan, was held as a festive event for local residents rather than attended by sitting lawmakers. Most of the participants were either residents of the Bukgap constituency or merchants from Gupo Market.

The attendee who drew the most attention was “Tomato, Chalbap Grandma” Kim Bogap. Selling vegetables at her street stall, Ms. Kim recently gave tomatoes to Donghoon Han and even cooked and handed over chalbap (sticky rice) for him, which became a talking point.

At the ceremony, Ms. Kim told Donghoon Han, “I don’t want to stay here—I want to go to the Blue House.” Han replied, “If I win in Bukgap and go to the Blue House, I will make sure to bring you with me.”

Independent candidate Donghoon Han, running for the by-election in Bukgap, Busan, is introducing the residents of Buk-gu at the opening ceremony of his election office held in Buk-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News

This opening event was also attended by conservative commentator Jo Gapje, former lawmakers Jeong Mikyung and Shin Jiho, former Supreme Council member Kim Jonghyuk, and former lawmaker Kim Kyungjin. In accordance with Han’s request, pro-Han Donghoon National Assembly members did not attend the event. Former lawmaker Jeong Hyeonggeun, who was appointed as chairman of the supporters’ association, could not attend due to health reasons and sent a representative instead.

In his greeting, Han stated, “Today, I have nothing special to say. As I have mentioned before, and as the residents who attended today’s ceremony have expressed, I will work to develop Buk-gu, rebuild conservatism, and stop the reckless actions of the Lee Jae-myung administration.”

Democratic Party candidate Ha Jung-woo, running for the Busan Bukgap National Assembly by-election, is receiving the baton labeled "Future of Buk-gu" from Busan mayoral candidate Jeon Jae-su at the election office opening ceremony held in Buk-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News

Democratic Party candidate Ha Jungwoo held his campaign office opening ceremony at 3 p.m., one hour later. Introducing himself, Ha said, “I am the son of Buk-gu, raised by parents who ran a street stall at Deokpo Market, learning from their honest sweat and hearts.” He added, “As the son of Buk-gu, I will pour all my expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) into the future of Buk-gu.”

Jeon Jae-su, the Democratic Party’s Busan mayoral candidate who attended Ha Jungwoo’s opening ceremony, said, “I entrust Ha Jungwoo to all of you,” and added, “With Ha Jungwoo and myself at the forefront, we will work together to lay the solid infrastructure for Busan to become a maritime capital and an AI city.” The Bukgap constituency is where Jeon Jae-su previously served three terms.

The Democratic Party leadership, who had attended Jeon Jae-su’s opening ceremony the previous day, did not attend this event. Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae visited the campaign office of Min Hyung-bae, candidate for Mayor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Unified City, while floor leader Han Byungdo attended the opening ceremony for candidate Kim Namjun in the Gyeyang-eul constituency in Incheon.

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