Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, said regarding the People Power Party mentioning the 'anti-Lee Jae-myung big tent,' "They are struggling in a torn fake tent." He also emphasized that the 'real big tent' is the Democratic Party of Korea, citing Congressman Kim Sang-wook, who left the People Power Party to join the Democratic Party of Korea.
The candidate said during a campaign rally at Seoul's Yongsan Station square on the afternoon of the 19th, "Congressman Kim Sang-wook is here, having struggled with a fake conservative party and now has joined the proper party," adding, "I wonder if there are people struggling in that torn fake big tent (People Power Party). Come to the real big tent, the Democratic Party of Korea."
On that day, the candidate started his official campaign in the capital region by visiting Yongsan-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, and Mapo-gu. During his first rally in Seoul, remarks appeared to be critical of the People Power Party's recent proposal to form a so-called 'anti-Lee Jae-myung big tent' with Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok.
A bulletproof glass wall was installed on the campaign vehicle to protect the candidate. The rally at Yongsan Station square emphasized 'national integration.' Given that this area is where the presidential office is located, he repeatedly claimed that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has failed in terms of the economy, politics, and security.
The candidate stated, "Over the past three years, during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the security situation in South Korea has worsened significantly. If the future is uncertain, the economy cannot thrive," and added, "(Former President Yoon) must declare martial law, but lacking justification, he provoked North Korea. North Korea noticed and just endured."
He emphasized, "What have they been doing over the past three years? They divide sides, make up nonexistent sides to fight against each other, look after their own camp while trying to eliminate the opposing camp, and even advocate for outright killing them. Let us not act so meanly, pitifully, and childishly."
The candidate also stated, "When politicians fight, we shouldn’t just side with them and divide ourselves; we must observe the reasons for the conflict and select the wrong workers with bad intentions to adjudicate them. Let’s overcome small differences. Politics is not a place to test politicians' ideologies and values."