Two-Track Strategy in Chungcheong and Busan by Opposition Leadership: "Stop the Runaway of the Ruling Power"

Nationwide Support Campaign Amid Leadership Role-Sharing
Full-Scale Backing for Buk-gu Gap, Busan

With the official campaign period for the 9th nationwide local elections set to begin on June 3, the leadership of the People Power Party has entered a full-scale election support system. Jang Donghyuk, Standing Election Countermeasures Committee Chairman, began his campaign in Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province, while Song Eonseok, Co-Chairman of the Election Committee, appealed to voters to "stop the runaway of the ruling power."

Jang Donghyuk, Standing Election Countermeasures Committee Chair of the People Power Party, is greeting commuters at Taepyeong Five-way Intersection in Jung-gu, Daejeon on the 21st. Photo by Kim Pyeonghwa

On the morning of May 21, Chairman Jang attended the local election campaign kickoff ceremony held at Seogwang Square in Daejeon Station, Dong-gu, Daejeon. After visiting Gyeonggi Province Governor candidate Yang Hyangja's hunger strike site in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province at midnight, he selected Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province as his first official campaign stops. Chairman Jang also greeted commuters at Taepyeong Five-way Intersection in Jung-gu, Daejeon, together with Lee Jangwoo, the party's candidate for Daejeon Mayor. Holding a placard reading "No to the Special Prosecutor Bill Canceling Prosecution for Lee Jaemyung's Crimes!", he stood in place and greeted citizens for over 30 minutes.

This visit to Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province is seen as part of a division of roles, especially amid some discord with several Seoul metropolitan area candidates, including Seoul Mayor candidate Oh Sehoon. Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province are both Chairman Jang's hometown region (Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province) and a representative swing region. Candidate Oh also told reporters that day, "I hope the party leadership will devote all its energy to the struggle against the government."

Song, one of the party’s two top leaders, said at a press conference that morning, "Please block the dangerous, unilateral runaway of the ruling party and help build a Korea that develops through checks and balances." Afterwards, Song will visit Busan to continue the two-track campaign with Chairman Jang. Choi Sujin, the party’s chief spokesperson in the National Assembly, told reporters, "With campaign kickoff ceremonies starting simultaneously across the country, the leadership has selected campaign stops focused on regions where their support is especially needed."

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