Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, campaigned in the southern Gyeonggi region, referred to as his "political stronghold." He emphasized his "capability" by stating that he made Gyeonggi Province the best-rated local government in the nation. He also warned that if Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party is elected, former President Yoon Suk-yeol could return as the de facto ruler.
On the afternoon of the 26th, at the entrance of Yeongdong Market in Suwon, the candidate said, "An irresponsible, incompetent person who is indifferent to the lives of the people is managing the country's finances, leading to negative growth in South Korea," and asked, "Who is the capable presidential candidate who is ready to really play the role of a government that revitalizes the economy?"
Suwon is the area where the Gyeonggi provincial government is located. The candidate served as the mayor of Seongnam from 2010 to 2018 and then as the governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2018 to 2021. Because he emerged as a strong contender for the next presidential election while serving as governor, Suwon is a special place for him as well. That day, about 2,000 supporters and citizens gathered at Yeongdong Market in Suwon, according to police estimates.
The candidate emphasized, "I made Seongnam the number one city that citizens of Suwon want to move to, and I created a Gyeonggi Province that is rated the best in the country," asking, "Who made the Democratic Party a winning party that achieved the greatest victory in the history of South Korean politics, a capable party?"
He continued, "Let’s create a hopeful country through Lee Jae-myung, a capable candidate proven by verified performance and loyal to the people," adding, "Bullets are strong, but what is stronger than bullets is a ballot. We will definitely create a beautiful community of South Korea together through voting."
Similarly, in Yongin, the candidate emphasized his capabilities. However, during his speech in Yongin, a man repeatedly shouted "hotel economics," while another man protested holding a sign that read "absolutely oppose the super-large data center."
The candidate stated, "To the citizens of Yongin who are next to the citizens of Seongnam, and to the citizens of Gyeonggi Province who have experienced Lee Jae-myung, if you use Lee Jae-myung, just as Seongnam has changed, Gyeonggi Province will change, and South Korea will definitely change as well," adding, "If we work sincerely with affection, South Korea will be much better than now."
As the end of the election campaign approaches in a week, he was also seen encouraging voting. The candidate mentioned the so-called "1·2·3 campaign" several times, saying, "Candidate No. 1, Lee Jae-myung, needs three more votes."