By Jun Ji-hye
Candidates and their campaigners have come up with seemingly unique pledges to woo supporters ahead of today’s presidential election.
Noted liberal figures made diverse pledges to the public as part of efforts to raise the turnout of voters.
Cho Kuk, a law professor at Seoul National University (SNU), initially pledged to walk up all the stairs of a 63-story landmark building in Yeouido last week. But he changed his plan on Tuesday to conduct 77 big bows along with Ahn Kyung-hwan, SNU professor and head of Moon’s new politics committee.
Appearing at CBS radio, Cho said, “I cannot let him do such a thing alone. I changed my plan and will do it with him.”
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon pledged to sing at Seoul City Hall Square. He posted on his Twitter account on Monday, “If you wonder how well I sing, please vote on Dec. 19.”
Entertainers also joined making unique promises regarding voter turnout.
A comedy-singing group “Brave Guys” that star on KBS “Gag Concert” vowed to sing at a wedding for 70 couples for free if the percentage is more than 70.
Indie groups, including “Gate Flowers,” “Oh! Brothers” and “GOGOSTAR,” who hold a rock concert at 5:30 p.m. at the club in the Hongik University district today, plan to give a 10,000 won discount for audiences who show a vote confirmation slip.
Two female entertainers made even more peculiar promises as condition for more than 75 percent voter turnout.
Actress Uhm Da-hye said she will perform a riding dance stark naked in Haeundae in Busan.
La Risa, naturalized Korean from Russia who appeared on the KBS’s “Chats with beautiful girls,” also vowed to dance with nothing on in the middle of Daehangno.
Meanwhile, some cafe or restaurant owners pledged to offer coffee or alcohol for free if the turnout reaches above 70 percent.
Young voters will be able to see Moon Jae-in, the Democratic United Party (DUP)’s presidential candidate, perform Psy’s horse-riding dance in the middle of Myeong-dong, Seoul, If the voter turnout in today’s election tops 77 percent;
Moon himself made a pledge last week to perform the rodeo dance move if the turnout reaches 77 percent, the magic number the opposition party estimated to win beat the ruling Saenuri Party’s Park Geun-hye.
The main opposition party expects more young voters’ participation to give Moon a greater chance of winning.