Busan: Three presidential candidates intensified their campaigns in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province, targeting conservative voters with just 20 days remaining until the June 3 election. The election is shaping up to be a three-way race among Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party (DP), Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP), and Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party, with Lee Jae-myung leading in opinion polls.
According to Yonhap News Agency, since official campaigns commenced earlier this week, the candidates have been actively engaging with voters in the southeastern region, a known stronghold of the conservative PPP. This election marks the culmination of months of political uncertainty following the ousting of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed martial law bid. The candidates will continue their campaign trail in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province on the third day, after visiting Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
Lee Jae-myung of the DP plans to visit the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan and the cities of Changwon, Tongyeong, and Geoje. He aims to persuade voters to look beyond party lines and choose a leader capable of revitalizing the economy. In the 2022 presidential election, Lee secured about 20 percent of votes in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
Kim Moon-soo of the PPP will focus on economic policies, visiting a traditional market in Jinju, the Korea AeroSpace Administration in Sacheon, and a national industrial complex in Changwon. Kim's campaign in Gyeongsang Province, traditionally a PPP bastion, seeks to address public disillusionment with the conservative party following Yoon's impeachment.
Meanwhile, Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party will spend his campaign day in Busan, engaging with students and religious leaders, as he seeks to expand his influence in the region.