Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea and former TV Chosun anchor of the People Power Party Shin Dong-wook, who is running for Seoul Seocho-eul in the 22nd National Assembly election, are greeting citizens in front of Sangmoon High School in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [서울=뉴시스]
“For the region to develop, the vote should not be too focused on one side. “This time, I will vote for Democratic Party candidate Hong Ik-pyo.” (Mr. Lee, resident of Seocho-gu, Seoul, 50)
“Why do I have to take a picture of ‘Lee Jae-myung’s shrine’? Everyone here supports the People Power Party. “There is no need to see (the results).” (Seocho-gu resident Mr. Shin, 68)
Seocho-eul, Seoul is classified as a representative ‘ruling party’s garden’ and ‘opposition party’s rough territory’ as no Democratic Party-affiliated party has ever won a general election since the 14th general election (1992). Democratic Party candidate Hong, who ran for a third term in Jungseong-dong-gap, Seoul, challenged Seocho-eul in 2022, saying, “I will make meaningful changes to the party by challenging difficult terrain.” In response, the People Power Party also nominated Shin Dong-wook, a new face and former news anchor, who has public recognition, instead of Rep. Park Seong-jung, a former Seocho-gu mayor and active member of the 20s and 21st congressman.
The Democratic Party’s strategy is to solidify its theory of judging the regime until the last minute, believing that the gap between the ruling and opposition candidates in Seocho-eul has narrowed to within the margin of error during the ‘dark period’ after the 4th day when public opinion polls were banned. Candidate Hong’s side expressed expectations, saying, “As criticism of the regime intensified throughout Seoul, Seocho-eul, where the Democratic Party was inferior, has recently turned into a weak area.”
Candidate Hong is putting forward a ‘big person theory’ based on his experience as a three-term lawmaker and floor leader of the largest party. An official from Candidate Hong’s camp emphasized, “We will use our various experiences and political power to solve long-awaited local projects such as relocating the Nambu Terminal and making the Gyeongbu Expressway underground.” Candidate Hong also said at a campaign rally in Yangjae-dong on this day, “As Seocho has been monopolized by a specific political party for 30 years, development has stagnated and the gap with Gangnam is growing. Instead of politics that only change after first and re-election, we should elect powerful politicians with proven skills.” “I do it,” he claimed.
On the other hand, the People Power Party believes that Seocho-eul is still superior with a gap of more than 10 percentage points. A camp official said, “Conservative supporters are gathering more around the early voting day,” and added, “The fact that Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, chose Seocho-eul as an ‘ultra-popular’ region is only meant to boost internal morale.”
Candidate Shin’s strategy is to “use the image of a ‘political newcomer’ as a strength to emphasize that the government, the ruling party, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government can work as a ‘one team’ for the development of Seocho.” In a phone call, Candidate Shin sharpened his voice, saying, “Candidate Hong is a person who should be held accountable for regressing politics for the sake of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung’s bulletproof and personal interests while he was the floor leader.”
The reactions of Seocho-gu residents were mixed. Ms. Choi, in her 60s, whose husband is a businessman, said, “During the Moon Jae-in administration, property taxes and other taxes were raised so much that people who run businesses are still having a hard time,” and added, “The Yoon Seok-yeol administration is not doing well, but I agree with the policy of lowering taxes.” On the other hand, Mr. Park (32), an office worker, said, “President Yoon Seok-yeol was very poor at responding to major incidents such as the Itaewon disaster,” and added, “I have viewed Candidate Hong well as the floor leader, but since he is running in my constituency, I will try to elect him this time.”
Reporter Ahn Gyu-young kyu0@donga.com
Reporter Choi Hye-ryeong herstory@donga.com
2024-04-08 08:30:00
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