Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae urged voters to support ballot number one [2] to defeat what he called the "prison trio."
This call reflects a sharpening ideological divide in the local elections as the Democratic Party attempts to frame the opposition's strategy as a regression to the past. The rhetoric targets the People Power Party's decision to involve former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye in campaign activities.
Jung spoke during campaign events in Seoul at the Jung Won-oh mayoral candidate camp and in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. He said that the opposition is attempting to reverse historical progress by deploying former leaders who had been imprisoned [1].
During his address, Jung linked economic satisfaction to political support. "If there are those who feel pleased while looking at their stock accounts, please vote for the Democratic Party's number one [2]," Jung said.
He further emphasized the connection between the party's leadership and the ballot. "I said that if you support President Lee Jae-myung, please vote for 'number one' [2]," Jung said.
The "prison trio" refers to three individuals [1] associated with the opposition, a term Jung used to characterize the legal histories of the figures the People Power Party is utilizing for its campaign momentum. By focusing on this imagery, the Democratic Party seeks to remind voters of the judicial outcomes associated with those former leaders.
“"If there are those who feel pleased while looking at their stock accounts, please vote for the Democratic Party's number one."”
The use of the 'prison trio' label is a strategic attempt by the Democratic Party to delegitimize the People Power Party's campaign by associating it with criminal convictions. By tying economic performance—specifically stock market gains—to the party's ballot number, Jung is attempting to bridge the gap between fiscal satisfaction and political loyalty among the electorate.
