Three candidates in the Busan Buk-A by-election held campaign office openings simultaneously on the 10th, setting off a fierce show of force. The People Power Party's Park Min-sik packed his office with party leader Jang Dong-hyuk and senior lawmakers, while independent candidate Han Dong-hoon — without the attendance of his "pro-Han" allies — drew a large crowd of local residents. Front-runner Ha Jung-woo of the Democratic Party also rallied supporters, leveraging backing from President Lee Jae-myung and Busan mayoral candidate Jeon Jae-soo.
Park's campaign opening drew a full turnout of party leadership, including floor leader Song Eon-seog and senior lawmakers Kim Gi-hyeon, Na Kyung-won, Kwak Kyu-taek and Kwon Young-se. Busan mayoral candidate Park Hyung-joon and former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong also joined in support. According to Park's camp, 5,000 people attended the event. However, pro-Han and reform-minded People Power Party lawmakers, including Jung Yeon-wook, Jung Sung-kook and Lee Seong-kwon, did not attend.
Park went on the offensive by emphasizing his Buk-gu roots, taking aim at the other candidates. "I will repay with certain victory this fight between fake Buk-gu residents and real Buk-gu people," Park said. "With the election just a month away, would residents believe an outsider who talks about developing Buk-gu?" Jang said, "The real workhorse that Buk-gu raised is Park Min-sik," while Na added, "Park Min-sik, a Gupo Elementary graduate and a true Gupo native, will truly work for Gupo."
Floor leader Song took a direct shot at Han, saying, "I won't comment on the person who walks around in white clothes." Park also criticized Han's appointment of former lawmaker Jung Hyung-keun as his support group chair, saying, "It's hard to understand bringing back a figure from 20 years ago."
About 600 meters away, Han's campaign office opening was held at the same time. Pro-Han lawmakers had initially planned to attend, but the party leadership hinted at possible disciplinary action, prompting Han to dissuade them from attending; the event was held as a community festival instead. Conservative commentator Cho Gab-je, former lawmakers Jung Mi-kyung and Shin Ji-ho, and former Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk attended. Han's camp said 10,000 people were on hand.
In his remarks, Han pledged to "develop Buk-gu, rebuild the conservative movement and stop the Lee Jae-myung government's reckless drive." Asked about the party leadership and senior lawmakers rallying behind Park, Han said: "Is it important for powerful figures to line up and speak? Which looks better? I could do it that way too, but does that change anything for Busan Buk-A?" Honorary campaign chair Seo Byung-soo added, "Let's unite our strength to elect Han and let the southeastern wind blow for rebuilding the conservative movement."
Ha also opened his campaign office in Gupo-dong, Buk-gu, launching a full-scale effort to expand his support base. "I am a son of Buk-gu, raised learning the honest sweat and heart of parents who ran a stall at Deokpo Market," Ha said. "Instead of political fights, I will focus on actually improving the lives of Buk-gu residents and delivering results," he said. "Through the invincible armada of Buk-gu development that runs from Lee Jae-myung to Jeon Jae-soo to Ha Jung-woo, I will connect budgets, systems and people and bring Buk-gu's future forward."
With the conservative camp divided heading into the Busan Buk-A election, calls for a unified candidacy have also emerged. Busan mayoral candidate Park Hyung-joon said, "To block the Lee Jae-myung government's reckless drive and win the Busan election, we must end the division starting in Buk-A and take the first step toward unity." He stressed that "in recent polls, around 65% of conservative voters want a unified candidate." Han said of the issue, "It's not something I should raise first."
Meanwhile, in a survey conducted by polling firm Metavoice for JTBC on the 4th and 5th of 501 adults in Busan Buk-A, 37% said they support Ha. Park Min-sik drew 26% support and Han 25%, putting both outside the margin of error against Ha. However, in a hypothetical two-way race following conservative unification, Ha stood at 44% against Park's 39%, and at 42% against Han's 36%. Both two-way matchups were within the margin of error.
The survey was conducted via 100% mobile phone interviews (CATI). The margin of error is ±4.4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, with a response rate of 15.1%. More details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.
