I intend to vote because candidate Lee Jae-myung seems to be a reasonable choice close to the center.” (Kim, 30s, resident of Seongnam)
I want to support candidate Lee Jun-seok. I feel like I've seen a candidate who is satisfactory in terms of ability.” (Jin, 20s, resident of Suwon)
Lee Jun-seok, the Reform Party's candidate for president, visited Suwon and Seongnam on the afternoon of the 24th to conduct a campaign. Suwon is the place where Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for president, served as governor of Gyeonggi Province. Seongnam is also a stronghold where Lee served as mayor.
In the last 20th presidential election, candidate Lee Jae-myung lost, but he showed a superior appearance in the voting rate in four districts of Suwon (Jangan-gu, Gwonseon-gu, Paldal-gu, Yeongtong-gu) compared to the then People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl.
In the 19th presidential election, then-Democratic Party of Korea candidate Moon Jae-in was the only candidate to achieve a voting rate in the 40% range in the four districts of Suwon, overwhelming Hong Joon-pyo, then of the Liberty Korea Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, then of the People's Party, who had 20%.
Seongnam is also a region with strong influence from the Democratic Party of Korea. It is also the place that served as the political driving force for Lee Jae-myung to rise to the position of governor of Gyeonggi Province.
During the 20th presidential election, except for Bundang-gu, Lee Jae-myung, then a candidate, dominated Yoon Seok-youl with a voting rate exceeding half in Sujeong-gu and Jungwon-gu. In the 19th presidential election, then-candidate Moon Jae-in also showed a superior appearance with voting rates in the 40% range in all three districts of Seongnam.
However, both Suwon and Seongnam generally recorded a voting rate in the 40% range for conservative candidates. Given the high proportion of those in the middle ground, it means that the outcome could change depending on the turnout.
Voters met near Suwon Station in Paldal-gu on this day generally seemed to have solidified their votes for the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party. Park, 70s, who lives near Suwon Station, said, “My family lives in Honam, and I believe the Democratic Party has saved Gyeonggi Province,” adding, “I think I will support the Democratic Party again this time.”
Yeom, a 60s self-employed individual, stated, “I plan to support People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo this time,” adding, “I don’t like that candidate Lee Jun-seok seems to be dividing conservative votes.”
However, it was not difficult to find voters in Suwon who support candidate Lee Jun-seok. The candidate campaigned at Suwon Station on this day, where over 300 people gathered to see him. The voters gathered on this day chanted his name in succession following the election workers.
Jin, a 20s voter who visited Suwon Station to see candidate Lee Jun-seok, said, “In the last presidential election, I voted for former President Yoon Seok-youl because I wanted to block candidate Lee Jae-myung,” adding, “But this time, it seems a candidate who is satisfactory in terms of ability has emerged, and I plan to support candidate Lee Jun-seok.”
Choi, in his 60s, said, “When I was in my 40s, I supported the Democratic Party because I thought it was a party that worked for the common people like me,” but added, “However, I felt that the Democratic Party also rides the wave of privilege to gather votes, so I am no longer supporting them and plan to vote for the young candidate Lee Jun-seok this time.”
The sentiments of voters in Seongnam's Bundang-gu around Seohyeon Station also seemed to be solidified along the lines of the two parties. A passerby in his 30s, Kim, said, “This time, I intend to vote for candidate Lee Jae-myung,” adding, “It seems that the People Power Party is unable to provide the true values of conservatism. Rather, it seems candidate Lee Jae-myung is getting closer to the center, and I want to give him a chance.”
A 60s voter, Kim, stated, “I plan to vote for candidate Kim Moon-soo,” adding, “I don’t want to vote for the opposing candidate Lee Jae-myung as it seems he is constantly lying.”
However, it was also easy to hear the voices of supporters of candidate Lee Jun-seok in Seongnam. On this day, the candidate visited Seohyeon Station as his last schedule for campaigning, where 200 people gathered to see him and shout his name.
A 30s individual named Lee, who was present at the site, stated, “I plan to vote for candidate Lee Jun-seok.” Lee commented, “The two parties led by older individuals have dominated Korean politics until now, and I believe it’s time for a youth-friendly politician to lead the country.”