On Nov. 17, at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center Plaza in Seo-gu, Gwangju, citizens listen to the speech of the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung during the focused campaign. /News1

"What kind of vegetable garden is this? It's a living club. I will take good care of you from now on."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, referenced his defeat in the recent Jeonnam Damyang-gun mayoral election against the Rebuilding Korea Party in Naju, Jeonnam, on the 17th, stating, "This exemplifies the greatness of Honam."

The candidate said, "I support the Democratic Party, but I will discipline them whenever they do wrong," adding, "I have always had fears regarding Honam."

He further emphasized, "Even during the long and brutal military regime, hundreds unjustly lost their lives, but it ultimately ended with the May 18 Democratic Movement," saying, "The conclusion of this violent and outdated regime after the Candlelight Revolution with the light revolution is also ultimately the spirit of Honam."

On Nov. 17, Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, visits the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju, weeping as he pays respects at the grave of martyr Park Kwan-hyun. /News1

On the same day, Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party candidate, paid his respects at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju. After writing in the visitor's book, 'Democracy written in the blood of May in Gwangju,' he paid his respects and offered flowers.

Afterward, moments were captured of him shedding tears while visiting the graves of martyrs Yoon Sang-won, who was a spokesperson for the Citizens' Army during the May 18 movement, and Park Kwan-hyun, who was the student council president of Chonnam National University at that time.

Martyr Park died after a 50-day hunger strike in 1982, and the candidate noted that he had been imprisoned in the same solitary cell where Park passed away five years later in 1988, stating, "Thinking of May always brings painful memories to me."

On the 17th, a day before the 45th anniversary of the Gwangju May 18 Democratic Movement, the two leading presidential candidates visited Honam to plead for support.

Candidate Lee has been residing in Honam, the party's stronghold, for three days, following visits to Jeonnam on the 15th and Jeonbuk the day before, focusing on securing the "home rabbits."

Kim, who visited Honam for the first time since starting official campaign activities on the 12th, actively highlighted his history of 'democracy movements.'

On the same day, Lee Jun-seok, the Reform Party candidate, visited areas such as Seongsu-dong and Hongdae in Seoul, targeting the key youth demographic.

◇ Lee: "Cleanly organize Gwangju Airport" Kim: "Incorporate the spirit of May 18 into the constitution"

On this day, Lee Jae-myung spoke at the Gwangju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center regarding the relocation of Gwangju Airport, stating, "If you make me president, I will manage it directly and cleanly organize it."

He added, "I will communicate sufficiently with stakeholders, find methods, and adjust understandings to swiftly relocate the airport, and if funds are insufficient, the government will provide support to ensure we find a breakthrough."

Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeollanam-do are promoting a plan to integrate Gwangju's civilian-military airport to Muan, but Muan County is opposing this.

The candidate also stated, "I will certainly support Gwangju to make it a central city for artificial intelligence (AI), turning it into the best AI city in Korea."

On the day Kim visited Gwangju, the People Power Party unveiled a tailored pledge to include the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Movement in the preamble of the constitution.

Kim then visited Jeonbuk Jeonju Hanok Village, a region with a lot of floating population, where he stated, "I will fully support the bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics."

He also mentioned regarding the Saemangeum development project, "Why are we leaving 12 million pyeong of Saemangeum unused?" promising to develop this valuable land into a world-class industrial and educational city. "I will make it a dream city," he said.

He added, "We need to boldly offer the land almost for free and cut taxes."

◇ Lee Jun-seok traversing Seongsu and Hongdae: 'Don't become a terrible populist'!

On Nov. 17, in the afternoon, Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the Reform Party, is campaigning in the Café Street of Seongsu-dong, Seoul. /Provided by Lee Jun-seok Camp

As the presidential election approaches in 17 days, Lee Jun-seok is launching a full-scale campaign targeting areas with high numbers of young visitors.

While visiting Yeonmujang-gil in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon, Lee conducted a foot campaign and met with a crowd of about 200 people who had come to the nearby commercial area. Some enthusiastically chanted his name, and Lee took the opportunity to shake hands with voters and take photos.

The candidate emphasized, "After former President Yoon Seok-yeol's misguided martial law plunged Korea into chaos, I cannot stand by while a terrible populist comes in and ruins the Republic of Korea. The country needs to make a choice that is neither left nor right, but forward."

He plans to continue campaigning in the streets near Hongik University in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Due to the crowds, it will be difficult to operate his campaign vehicle, so he intends to personally pull a hand cart carrying sound equipment to meet voters.