With the official candidate registration deadline closing, the 'final lineup' for the June 3 presidential election has been confirmed. Each candidate is expected to start their official campaigning on the 12th, engaging in a fierce competition.
◇ Lee Jae-myung nails the 'oh-daemyeong'... First campaign rally in Gwanghwamun
Candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is number 1 on the ballot, opens the first day of campaigning by focusing on the 'centrist voter sentiment' that will determine the election outcome.
Lee will start his first campaign rally at Cheonggye Plaza in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Afterward, he will travel through Dongtan to Daejeon, where he will conduct concentrated campaigning related to semiconductors and science and technology.
It is interpreted as a strategy to continue the 'livelihood and economy steps' shown during the primaries into the main election, with a focus on expanding his support base.
The Democratic Party of Korea is reportedly preparing for a comprehensive 'surgical examination' as the battle against People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo has been confirmed. Kim's affiliation with the 'anti-tan (against the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol)' faction will be highlighted to emphasize his alignment with insurgent sympathizers.
In particular, an onslaught is expected against Kim Moon-soo for maintaining close relationships with Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of the Sarang Jeil Church, known as an extreme right figure. Kim has a history of founding the Christian Freedom Unification Party with the pastor in 2019.
Moreover, Kim is expected to emphasize his allegiance to Yoon Suk-yeol's faction, arguing that People Power Party still has not appropriately distanced itself from the former president.
Kim Min-seok, the senior co-chair of the Democratic Party of Korea election committee, noted in an emergency briefing the day before (the 11th) that "(Candidate Kim Moon-soo) appears to be teaming up with former Pastor Jeon to create an extreme right 'big tent' and establish a unified new party."
Candidate Kim emphasized the 'reconstruction of the anti-Lee Jae-myung big tent' after being re-confirmed as the People Power Party candidate on the night of the 10th, a point that appears to mock his competitors.
Senior spokesperson Cho Seung-rae also pointedly remarked in a briefing that they are 'extreme right fanatics who have even shed tears for Jeon Kwang-hoon.'
The Democratic Party of Korea is expected to focus on criticizing the recent 'candidate replacement commotion' within the People Power Party. It will highlight that after selecting Kim as the candidate through the primaries, the party attempted to awkwardly replace him with independent Han Duck-soo but was thwarted by an overall member vote, portraying it as a 'undemocratic coup.'
Indeed, on the 10th Lee Jae-myung targeted the People Power Party, criticizing it by asking, "What kind of party is that?" and called the candidate replacement 'a loyalist coup.'
◇ Kim 'I will run with the determination to die'... Rallying the conservative camp for 'anti-Lee front'
After some twists and turns, Kim Moon-soo, who received number 2 on the ballot, is expected to carry out a busy schedule that day.
He will start the day early by visiting Garak Market in Songpa District, Seoul, to meet with market merchants. Then he will return to the National Assembly for a meeting of the central election committee. Afterward, he will move through Daejeon National Cemetery and the Chungnam Regional Election Committee, finally heading to Seomun Market, known as the 'stronghold of conservatism.' Seomun Market is the largest traditional market in Daegu, where politicians from both parties visit during elections to appeal to voters.
While drawing in centrist voter sentiment from the metropolitan area and Daejeon, he also plans to visit the Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province (TK) regions to enforce the 'stronghold surveillance.' Particularly, as there were many party members who wanted unification with Han Duck-soo, the visit to Daegu appears to reflect the intention to heal and unify the wounds experienced during the internal conflicts.
However, as accountability issues concerning Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader, continue to be raised, dealing with the aftermath of the candidate replacement commotion has also become Kim's responsibility.
Candidate Kim has prioritized quickly reorganizing the party. On that day, following the resignation of Chairperson Kwon Young-se, he appointed first-term lawmaker Kim Yong-tae, the youngest member of the People Power Party, as the emergency committee chairperson. He appointed Kweon Seong-dong as co-chairperson to dispel 'expulsion rumors' and to highlight a united image. Four-term lawmaker Park Dae-chul was appointed as the secretary-general.
In particular, it seems that Candidate Kim intends to firmly tighten the reins for the 'Lee Jae-myung offensive,' which has been neglected in the priority list through party unity and reorganization.
The focus will likely be on building a broader base for the 'anti-Lee Jae-myung big tent,' which unites all forces opposing candidate Lee. The strategy aims to solidify the 'anti-Lee front' by embracing not only Han Duck-soo but also Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party.
However, as former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, who had previously expressed intentions for the big tent, has completely distanced himself, and while the People Power Party is undergoing internal turmoil, the presence of ‘candidate 4’ Lee Jun-seok has increased, leading to analysis suggesting that 'big tent expansion' is unlikely.
Additionally, Candidate Kim plans to target Lee Jae-myung's populist pledge of giving 250,000 won to the entire population. He also plans to focus on scrutinizing the recent series of 'rightward moves.' Although packaged under the name pragmatism, it is expected to emphasize that the direction of policy is difficult to ascertain.
◇ Lee Jun-seok aims for differentiation with 'Dongtan myth'
Lee Jun-seok, the Reform Party candidate who received number 4 on the ballot, will also start his campaigning from 12 a.m. at the Yeosu National Industrial Complex. He is expected to meet directly with workers who work overnight in harsh conditions to listen to their difficulties and propose solutions to secure local industrial competitiveness.
The day before, he visited Busan to gather voter sentiment. He proposed pledges such as expanding the runway of the new Busan Gimhae Airport to more than two and reducing transaction taxes to attract securities firms.
In particular, he visited Myeongji Market in Gangseo District, where former President Roh Moo-hyun declared his candidacy in the 16th general election, stating, "I will inherit the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun, who chose the right but lonely path."
Candidate Lee Jun-seok has expressed a strong will to 'finish what he started.'
In an interview with ChosunBiz on the 9th, he stated, "The People Power Party has not been able to erase the specter of Yoon Suk-yeol, and I predict that the struggle over party power will intensify," adding, "(The People Power Party) is not even a party aimed at the presidency. Therefore, the hegemony should shift toward the Reform Party preparing for the presidential victory."