Gyeonggi Governor Candidates Make Final Push as Election Looms

With two days remaining before the June 3 local elections, candidates from rival parties vying for the Gyeonggi governorship crisscrossed key strategic areas across the province on Sunday in a final push to win over voters.

Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party candidate, kicked off her campaign day with a morning visit to a livelihood site in Dongducheon.

She then traveled through northern Gyeonggi areas including Pocheon, Goyang and Gimpo, before wrapping up the day with a campaign rally in front of the Hosu-dong Post Office in Ansan.

Regarding the explosion disaster at Hanwha Aerospace's Daejeon plant that occurred earlier in the day, Choo wrote on her social media account: "With a heavy heart, I offer my sincere condolences for the deceased and extend deep sympathies to the bereaved families."

"I urge the government and relevant agencies to concentrate all their capabilities on swift rescue, fire suppression and accident response," she added. "During the remaining campaign period, I will quietly meet with provincial residents and listen to their voices."

In light of the Hanwha Aerospace tragedy, Choo plans to continue her campaign over the remaining two days by meeting citizens at livelihood sites without music or dance performances.

Yang Hyang-ja, the People Power Party candidate, embarked on a grueling itinerary, visiting Suwon, Uiwang, Anyang, Gunpo, Ansan, Siheung, Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong, Osan, Anseong, Gwangju and Hanam in succession.

Yang also conducted a subdued campaign in consideration of the Hanwha Aerospace tragedy, opting to walk the streets and meet voters rather than relying on campaign vehicles. She plans to tour the entire Gyeonggi Province until just before election day.

In a meeting with reporters covering the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, Yang expressed confidence, saying, "I am confident of victory in every region." She added, "Gyeonggi Province is no longer a stronghold for either conservatives or progressives. Provincial residents are more interested in who can revive the economy and prepare for the future than in which party a candidate belongs to."

Cho Eung-chun, the Reform Party candidate, appealed for support through intensive campaigning at Madu Station and Jeongbalsan Station in Ilsan, Goyang on Sunday morning. In the afternoon, he targeted voters by touring the Geumchon traditional five-day market in Paju and the Okjeong New Town in Yangju.