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Rival Candidates Launch Campaign Offices Simultaneously in Busan By-election

From Hankyoreh · (4m ago) Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Two rival candidates for a parliamentary by-election in Busan are launching their campaign offices simultaneously on the same day and time.
  • Park Min-sik, the ruling party candidate, and Han Dong-hoon, an independent, will hold their respective office openings just 10 minutes apart, escalating their political contest.
  • A third candidate, Ha Jung-woo of the Democratic Party, will also hold his office opening on the same day, intensifying the race.

The upcoming by-election in Busan's Buk-gap constituency is shaping up to be a fierce contest, with the main contenders, Park Min-sik of the People Power Party and independent candidate Han Dong-hoon, opting for a dramatic simultaneous launch of their campaign offices. This head-to-head approach, with their offices just a 10-minute walk apart, signals the intense rivalry and the high stakes involved.

We will be able to witness a scene of the complete mobilization of the People Power Party and the conservatives.

— Park Min-sikPark Min-sik, the People Power Party candidate, expressed confidence about the turnout at his campaign office opening, expecting a strong showing of party leaders and conservative figures.

Park Min-sik, a former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, is rallying support from key figures within the People Power Party, including party leader Jang Dong-hyuk and prominent lawmakers like Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo. He anticipates a strong showing of conservative support, aiming to consolidate the party's base. His campaign emphasizes a unified front for the conservative movement.

There is a role and responsibility for those who have become our party's lawmakers through the party's nomination.

— Jang Dong-hyukJang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, alluded to potential disciplinary actions for party members supporting Han Dong-hoon, emphasizing party loyalty.

Meanwhile, Han Dong-hoon, who was expelled from the People Power Party and is running as an independent, is also drawing significant attention. The People Power Party's leadership has warned against party members openly supporting Han, creating a potential internal conflict. This situation highlights the deep divisions within the party and the personal loyalty Han commands among some factions.

We are still discussing whether to attend Han's office opening.

— A pro-Han lawmakerA lawmaker aligned with Han Dong-hoon expressed uncertainty about attending Han's campaign launch, citing potential negative optics and conflict with Park Min-sik's camp.

The simultaneous office openings are not just about launching campaigns; they are strategic moves designed to capture media attention and energize supporters. The proximity of the offices and the timing of the events suggest a deliberate attempt to overshadow each other. This electoral battle in Busan is being closely watched as a barometer of public sentiment and the internal dynamics of the ruling party.

I will visit the residents of Buk-gu more often with a humble and low posture, listening to them with sincerity.

— Ha Jung-wooHa Jung-woo, the Democratic Party candidate, outlined his campaign approach after registering as a candidate, emphasizing direct engagement with constituents.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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