“I am a person who cannot tell lies. I will become a president for the common people.”
On the 12th, the first day of the official campaign for the 21st presidential election. Even on a weekday afternoon, the entrance of the ‘heart of conservatism’, Daegu Seomun Market, was packed with a crowd holding ‘Taegeukgi’ (Korean national flag) to see Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate. The atmosphere at the scene heated up as the sounds of a gong and drum echoed.
“Is it true that Lee Jae-myung will become president?” Words to hype up the atmosphere flowed from the market speakers before Candidate Kim's arrival. A member of Kim Moon-soo’s campaign team noted, “Much more people gathered compared to when he campaigned a week ago during the primary process.”
Around 5:30 p.m. Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate dressed in a white shirt with ‘Candidate No. 2’ written on it, climbed onto the campaign vehicle, and merchants and supporters chanted “Kim Moon-soo for president!”
Candidate Kim drew a heart above his head with both arms and shouted, “Daegu citizens! I love you!”
Candidate Kim then bowed deeply to the party leadership, including Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader who was on stage with him, Joo Ho-young, the co-chairman of the campaign committee, and Kim Sang-hoon, the policy chairman, as well as local lawmakers and merchant supporters such as Choo Kyung-ho, Kwon Young-jin, Lee Man-hee, Lee Hun-seung, Kim Dae-sik, Choi Eun-seok, Kim Gi-woong, and Kang Dae-sik.
Grabbing the microphone, Candidate Kim stated, “While Seomun Market has improved a lot and Daegu has developed, many difficulties still lie ahead. To overcome these challenges, we must create a great Korea once again. We need the spirit of President Park Chung-hee to revive the economy,” raising his voice, he said, “We can do it! We can do it! Let’s try!” As expected from a former labor activist, he alternated between raising his fists to the right and left, lifting the atmosphere. Supporters echoed his slogans.
The word resonating throughout the speech was ‘honest president.’ Candidate Kim expressed, “(Gyeongbuk is) where I was born, studied, and grew up,” adding, “Even someone from the Democratic Party is from Andong, but there's a master of lies who impersonates a prosecutor and a bachelor. Do we elect someone who is good at telling lies for president or someone who is good at telling the truth?” targeting Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate.
He recounted an anecdote from when he was identified as a ringleader during a protest in his senior year of high school but refused to make a false confession, stating that he was expelled from Seoul National University due to protests and spent seven years as a factory worker, emphasizing, “I cannot be made to lie even if it means going to prison. I absolutely cannot deceive people under any circumstances.” He continued, “If I become president in the future, I will definitely be an honest president who never lies,” speaking firmly. Supporters responded with applause and cheers.
Candidate Kim also referenced Lee's Daejang-dong development, saying, “As the governor of Gyeonggi Province, I developed dozens of cities, but not a single person in my circle has faced investigation or scrutiny,” emphasizing, “I will be a clean president.”
He also promised to become a president who revives the economy. Candidate Kim declared, “I will be a president for the common people, a president for science and technology, and an economic president,” adding, “As soon as I am elected, I will resolve all issues with President Trump decisively,” raising his voice. Supporters shouted, “Just make us live well!”
At the end of the campaign speech, Candidate Kim bowed once more toward the market people, saying, “As I rise, I will wipe tears in lower, tougher places and become your friend who laughs and cries together.” He continued, “I will inherit the great teachings of former President Park Chung-hee and the spirit of defending the Nakdong River front and protect Daegu and Gyeongbuk.”
The campaign wrapped up with Candidate Kim shouting, “Let’s unite, let’s fight, let’s win!” with his supporters. Candidate Kim expressed gratitude by shaking hands with supporters below the stage.
Despite the heated atmosphere, the campaign scene revealed the effects of the unprecedented ‘presidential candidate replacement’ situation within the party.
Before Candidate Kim's arrival, Kweon Seong-dong, Kim Dae-sik, Choi Eun-seok, and Woo Jae-jun waited at the entrance of Seomun Market to greet him, but Kim did not meet them and entered through another market entrance. Some supporters also hurled insults at Kweon Seong-dong and others.
The campaign vehicle was wrapped only with the phrase ‘A new Korea’. The official campaign slogan announced by the People Power Party that day was ‘A new Korea, fair and square Kim Moon-soo.’
Among the lawmakers on the campaign vehicle, Kim Dae-sik, Kwon Young-jin, and Lee Man-hee were dressed in suits instead of campaign clothes, while Woo Jae-jun wore a white T-shirt. While Candidate Kim danced and spoke to the campaign song he adapted from the popular song ‘Lovely’, Joo Ho-young, Choo Kyung-ho, and others raised their fists shouting ‘fighting’, but some lawmakers standing behind appeared awkward, merely clasping their hands or not joining in the chant for “Kim Moon-soo.” During Candidate Kim’s speech, Kweon Seong-dong also made a V sign symbolizing ‘Candidate No. 2’ with his hand and occasionally applauded, but at times bore a serious expression, placing his fist against his face.