Jang Donghyuk's 'East-West Crossing' from Daegu to Naju... Consolidating TK While Appealing to Honam (Comprehensive)

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, accelerated his regional activities ahead of the local elections on the 11th by embarking on an "east-west crossing" schedule that linked Daegu and Naju in South Jeolla Province. After gauging public sentiment at Seomun Market, the heart of Daegu and North Gyeongsang (TK), he traveled to the Honam region to deliver a message on fostering the energy industry, which observers see as an attempt to both rally his support base and broaden his appeal.

On the morning of the 11th, Jang visited the Daegu Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, located in Buk District, Daegu, and held a meeting with local startup leaders. He then visited Seomun Market, regarded as a symbolic venue for conservative politics in the TK region. For the People Power Party, a visit to Seomun Market is seen not merely as an outreach to everyday livelihoods, but as a political message directed at its core supporters. In political circles, the atmosphere at Seomun Market is widely considered a barometer of public sentiment in Daegu.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is receiving a bouquet from merchants during a meeting with the merchants' association at Daegu Seomun Market on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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Meeting merchants at Seomun Market, Jang began by saying, "The holidays are just around the corner, but the economy is not recovering and only prices keep rising, so I feel sorry to come and see the merchants in traditional markets."

He continued, "You must be even more worried now that the government and the ruling party have recently been pushing to ease restrictions on large discount store operations," adding, "It is regrettable that we did not listen sufficiently to the opinions of those who are safeguarding traditional markets before pursuing policy. The People Power Party will work harder to find ways for mutual coexistence."

Jang had lunch at the market and conversed with the merchants. During the schedule, some citizens cheered in support, and there were also instances of people mentioning President Yoon Suk Yeol by name.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a meeting held at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH) in Naju, Jeollanam-do, on the afternoon of the 11th. Provided by Yonhap News.

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In the afternoon, he traveled to Naju in South Jeolla Province to visit the Korea Institute of Energy Technology. Jang met with local experts and students to discuss the energy-based industrial potential of the South Jeolla region and strategies for attracting future industries.

At the meeting, he said, "It is true that in the past, the Korea Institute of Energy Technology did not receive sufficient attention and support, and that there were concerns in the local community," adding, "Now we must move beyond controversy and have the political community join forces to develop the Korea Institute of Energy Technology into a core asset of South Korea's energy strategy."

He went on, "The reason we chose this place as the first destination after the launch of the People Power Party's Gwangju-Jeonnam Future Strategy Special Committee is to foster energy talent and strengthen research and development capabilities," stressing, "The People Power Party will actively support the energy transition and future industrial challenges being led by Gwangju, South Jeolla, and North Jeolla from the perspective of a national development strategy."

In political circles, this schedule is being analyzed as a "two-track" strategy: consolidating his support base in the TK region while presenting policy messages in Honam. The assessment is that, ahead of the local elections, he is both managing the core conservative support base and attempting to expand his reach in regions where the party is relatively weak.

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