Party leaders make hectic campaign stops in and around Seoul


Parties kick-started their election campaigns on Thursday as the official 13-day canvassing period started for the upcoming April 11 general elections.

Leading parties displayed particular focus on the southwestern Youngdeungpo-B constituency, where a tight contest is expected between a ruling party heavyweight and an opposition rookie.

The constituency is not only the most crucial one in southwestern Seoul but also holds symbolic significance as it embraces Yeouido, where the National Assembly building is located.

It is also here that the main opposition Democratic United Party made a daring challenge against a high-profile candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, in a bid to overthrow the right-wing’s long-standing stronghold.

The Saenuri Party’s Rep. Park Geun-hye started her moves by appearing at the Daerim subway station to meet with citizens in the morning commuting hours on Thursday.

She thus campaigned for Rep. Kwon Young-se, the party’s secretary-general and incumbent representative for the corresponding area.

As Kwon has, until recently, been preoccupied with the party’s candidate selection feuds, the party leadership pledged all the more to fully back his electoral campaigns.

“We will separate ourselves from old political customs and lead a new, bright future for the country,” said Park, aiming to draw a distinction between the party and the current Lee Myung-bak government.

At the same time, the main opposition Democratic United Party chairperson Han Myeong-sook canvassed Singil station and the surrounding neighborhoods, backing candidate Shin Kyoung-min.

The DUP took an aggressive stance by appointing political novice Shin as a rival to Kwon as the constituency has long been classified as a right-wing stronghold.

Han also pledged to place focus on five strategic constituencies in Seoul, where the ruling party allocated its core members.

The list included Kwon in Youngdeungpo-B, former trade deal negotiator Kim Jong-hoon in Gangnam-B, top presidential aide Lee Jae-oh in Eunpyeong-B, pro-Park figure Rep. Hong Sa-duk in Jongno and former party leader Rep. Hong Joon-pyo in Dongdaemun-B.

“The upcoming elections are a golden opportunity to deliver the people’s judgment upon the current administration and the ruling party,” she said.

In contrast to the Saenuri’s single star marketing led by Park, the DUP made full use of the allied minority Unified Progressive Party and deployed a group of liberal public figures such as Seoul National University professor Cho Kuk and novelist Gong Ji-young.

Park and Han scanned other central Seoul areas during the day in an attempt to expand their influence in the capital before moving on to other provinces.

The Seoul race is to effectively sway the entire turnout as 112, or 45.5 percent of the total 246 constituencies are located within the city.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)