Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Main opposition party leads as official election campaign starts
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, second from left, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a campaign event near Wangsimni Station in Seongdong District, Thursday, endorsing his party's candidates, Jeon Hyeon-hui and Park Seong-Jun, running for the Jung Seongdong constituencies. Joint Press Corps
By Lee Hyo-jin
PPP stresses improving people's livelihood; DPK scrutinizes Yoon administration's incompetence
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is currently holding a significant advantage over the ruling People Power Party (PPP) as the April 10 general elections approach, with official electioneering commencing on Thursday.
Both parties, especially the ruling PPP, which is eager to bolster its declining support rate, have entered into full-fledged election mode. With only 13 days remaining until the pivotal elections that will shape the composition of the National Assembly for the next four years, the stakes are high.
The electoral landscape turned increasingly favorable for the DPK recently.
In the respective parties' own analyses announced on Tuesday, the liberal DPK anticipates victory in at least 110 electoral constituencies out of 254, while the conservative PPP expects to win in 82.
According to their analyses, in the 122 constituencies encompassing Seoul, surrounding Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon, the DPK foresees victory in 97, whether by a significant margin or a close race. Conversely, the PPP expects to secure wins in 20 of these districts.
The latest public opinion polls indicate the DPK surging ahead, while the PPP finds itself in an uphill struggle, marking a significant shift from weeks of closely contested support rates.
According to a Real Meter poll released on Monday, the DPK garnered 42.8 percent support, while the PPP secured 37.2 percent.
The DPK's support rate has been on an upward trajectory, climbing from 39.1 percent in the last week of February to 42.8 percent this week. In contrast, the PPP's support has dwindled from 46.7 percent to 37.2 percent over the same period.
The latest survey was conducted from Thursday to Friday last week at the request of Energy Economy News Daily, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.
Han Dong-hoon, right, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, holds his arms up with the party's candidate Lee Yong-ho running for a constituency in Seoul's Seodaemun District, during a canvassing event in Sinchon, Thursday. Yonhap
The PPP commenced its campaign trail with a sense of urgency, pledging to address people's livelihood concerns and revitalize the economy.
At 12 a.m. on Thursday, the PPP's interim leader Han Dong-hoon attended the launching ceremony of his party's official campaign at Garak Market in Seoul's Songpa District. He interacted with vendors and small shop owners, branding the PPP as a party representing hardworking people.
"The PPP will steadfastly prioritize political and livelihood reforms. We are committed to confronting the alleged criminal activities associated with figures like Lee Jae-myung and Cho Kuk," he said, referring to the DPK leader and the head of the liberal Rebuilding Korea Party, the PPP's two main rivals. Both Lee and Cho are on trial for respective corruption charges.
During the 13-day campaign period, candidates are permitted to utilize campaign vehicles and audio systems for public speeches, wear campaign uniforms, distribute campaign-related leaflets, and conduct canvassing activities with their campaign staff .
Starting in the morning, wearing a red sweatshirt, the color symbolizing the PPP, Han visited a dozen election battlegrounds in Seoul and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, the DPK's campaign emphasizes the missteps of the incumbent administration, portraying the upcoming election as an opportunity to deliver a harsh verdict on what it perceives as the incompetence of the Yoon Suk Yeol government.
The DPK leader began his first day of the official campaign period at Incheon's Gyeyang-A constituency by greeting morning commuters at a subway station. Lee is running against the PPP's candidate Won Hee-ryong.
Lee then attended the launching ceremony of his party's campaign at Yongsan District in Seoul, the area where the presidential office is located. Dozens of supporters gathered wearing blue jumpers and holding blue balloons, the DPK's symbolic color.
"The past two years have been a period of despair and suffering for the people. Due to the incompetence of the Yoon government, prices skyrocketed, interest rates soared and utility bills also rose," Lee said.
"It is now time to judge the Yoon adminstration that has betrayed the people."
Officials of the National Election Commission put up posters displaying candidates of the April 10 general elections in Jongno District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Later in the day, Lee showed up at campaign events in Seoul's Jung-Seongdong constituency and Dongjak District, the major swing regions of the capital, and endorsed his party's candidates Jeon Hyeon-hui and Ryu Sam-young, who are running in the respective districts.
Up for grabs in the upcoming election are 300 seats — 254 directly contested seats and 46 proportional representation slots. A total of 21 political parties have nominated 698 candidates in the constituency voting, along with 58 independent candidates. Additionally, 38 parties have nominated 253 candidates to compete for proportional representation.