Seoul: Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung held a campaign rally in South Jeolla Province on Thursday, while People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo issued an apology for the failed martial law decree by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, with less than three weeks remaining before the presidential election.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee, Kim, and Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party are engaged in a three-way race for the June 3 presidential vote, aiming to elect a successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted due to his unsuccessful martial law attempt. Currently, the DP's Lee is leading the opinion polls comfortably.
A National Barometer Survey conducted this week indicates that Lee of the DP is ahead with 49 percent support, compared to Kim's 27 percent, while the minor party's Lee trails with 7 percent. South Jeolla Province, known as a liberal stronghold, is where Kim of the PPP, still grappling with the aftermath of Yoon's ousting, extended his second public apology for Yoon's failed martial law plan.
In a bid to widen his support, Kim stated in Seoul that he "sincerely" apologized for Yoon's martial law debacle. Meanwhile, DP's Lee began the fourth day of his official campaign by engaging with youth through live YouTube talks at Hwagae Market in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, addressing issues such as employment, housing, and childcare.
Lee's itinerary included visits to Gwangyang, Yeosu, and Suncheon, with plans to visit Mokpo in Jeolla Province, commonly referred to as Honam, a traditional liberal DP support base, to garner voter support. On Facebook, Lee also expressed his "sincere" appreciation to teachers for their dedication to guiding students, in honor of Teacher's Day, which coincided with Thursday.
Conversely, Kim of the PPP concentrated on the Seoul metropolitan area, starting his day with a breakfast meeting on artificial intelligence (AI) and corporate strategies at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business. During the meeting, Kim committed to amending the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which holds employers and corporations accountable for fatal accidents in public areas.
Kim assured, "If I become the decision-maker, I will make sure that this harmful law no longer disturbs you." He then proceeded to Sindorim Station in southwestern Seoul to meet commuters, followed by a luncheon meeting with Joseph Yun, acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea, at the U.S. ambassador's residence in central Seoul.
The discussions likely encompassed various bilateral issues, including U.S. tariffs and security under U.S. President Donald Trump's second administration. Kim's focus on economic and foreign policy issues underscores his strategy to appeal to Seoul metropolitan voters, who are generally less swayed by regional sentiment and more responsive to policy matters.
Kim also campaigned earlier this week in Daegu, Busan, and other parts of the Yeongnam region in the country's southeast to rally conservative voter support before returning to Seoul.