This is the seventh in a series introducing the key inter-party battle fields in the upcoming April 11 general election. ― Ed.


The liberal camp is tensing up over Gwangju, as a ruling party runner is performing above expectations in the traditional left-wing stronghold.

Representing the ruling Saenuri Party for the city’s Seo-B constituency is first-term proportional representative Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, who is also party leader Rep. Park Geun-hye’s right-hand man.

His rival is Oh Byung-yun of the minority Unified Progressive Party, who won the left-wing’s sole candidacy through a preliminary race with the main opposition Democratic United Party.

Despite earlier speculation, the UPP and Saenuri candidates have mostly polled within the margin of error.

According to a survey conducted by a local daily, Lee even took the lead with 34.5 percent of the respondents’ support, beating Oh by 3.7 percentage points.

Amid such tight competition, both led heated debates, hoping to win in the city that stands as a symbol of pro-democracy movements in Korean history.

The Saenuri lawmaker focused on his contribution to the region’s budget.

“Over the past four years as a proportional representative I have given my best efforts to expand the budgets for Honam,” Lee said, referring to his nickname “Honam guardian.”

He also claimed that the decades-long liberal monopoly in the region resulted in social and economic stagnancy.

The ruling party member also derided the left-wing’s attack on the current Lee Myung-bak administration.

“The general elections must be differentiated from the presidential one,” Lee said.

“Residents should wisely choose the candidate who will truly dedicate himself to the interests of their region.”

The left-wing candidate, on the other hand, appealed to the people’s antipathy towards the incumbent regime and the ruling party.

“The upcoming race is not about my personal victory but about delivering the people’s evaluation over the Lee government,” Oh said.

“In order to bring real changes to Korean politics, it is crucial that the liberal unity should win in April.”

He also held the right-wing camp responsible for the regionalism in Gwangju, citing the government’s crackdown on the local pro-democracy movement back in 1980.

“The former bodies of the Saenuri Party oppressed democracy fighters here, which naturally resulted in the citizens’ preference for the liberals,” he said.

“A fair battle will only become possible, if the Saenuri Party apologizes for its past faults and makes efforts to achieve true democracy.”

One of the key strategic issues in the corresponding race is the solidity of the DUP-UPP bond.

Lee claimed that Oh undeservedly won his sole candidacy and was now trying to abuse the citizens’ support for the DUP.

The progressive candidate, in response, said that both parties agreed on the internal race in an aim to achieve a greater purpose and that no controversies arose over the process.

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