With the June 3 local elections approaching, the leadership of the ruling and opposition parties both visited battleground districts in the Seoul metropolitan area on Friday to rally support, but the mood on the ground could not have been more different. Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, staged an event in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, resembling a candidate "showcase," while Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party (PPP), faced blunt complaints in Incheon, with members telling him to his face that "public sentiment is dire."
Jeong presided over an on-site Supreme Council meeting at the Suwon Art Center Small Theater in Gyeonggi Province and stressed his determination to win the Gyeonggi governor race. "Gyeonggi Province must thrive for South Korea to thrive," he said. "We must secure victory in Gyeonggi and contribute to normalizing the nation." He also took aim at the PPP's struggle to build election momentum, saying, "While the PPP is unprepared because of internal strife, the Democratic Party is steadily moving forward."
The event drew a large turnout, including Reps. Han Jun-ho and Choo Mi-ae and Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon — all competing in the Gyeonggi governor primary — as well as preliminary candidates from across Gyeonggi running in the local elections. They formed a unified front, all wearing matching blue jackets bearing their names and districts.
