South Korea's 22-day official campaign period for the June 3 early presidential election started on Monday, with seven candidates in the running.
Lee Jae-myung, the candidate from the main liberal Democratic Party of Korea who has a commanding lead over the other candidates, kicked off his campaign with a ceremony in which he accepted a copy of "Green Book 2025" -- a policy proposal compiled by the party think tank the Institute for Democracy based on 6,315 citizen responses to the question, "What kind of country do you want to live in?" -- in Gwangwamun, central Seoul.
The party’s election committee plans to announce Lee’s 10 campaign pledges at the National Assembly later in the day.
Kim Moon-soo of the main conservative People Power Party began the day by meeting with vendors at Garak Market in Seoul’s Songpa-gu. Kim announced his 10 campaign pledges, focusing on guaranteeing corporate freedom and increasing middle-class income.
South Korea's Public Official Election Act stipulates in Article 33 that a presidential election period should be 23 days, including election day, and Article 59 states that official campaign activities are strictly limited to 22 days.
The regulated timeline is intended to ensure fairness by giving all candidates and political parties equal opportunity to reach voters. It also serves to prevent social disorder and excessive competition that could arise from unregulated campaigning.
Starting Monday, candidates can use campaign vehicles and loudspeakers to give speeches in public places, and can also use election campaign music 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., as well as hang banners.
shinjh@heraldcorp.com
