Former President Park Geun-hye has resumed nationwide election campaigning to support People Power Party candidates ahead of upcoming votes [1].

The return of the former president to the campaign trail coincides with active public outreach by incumbent President Lee Jae-myung. Political analysts said the current atmosphere is a proxy war between the two leaders, as both seek to solidify their respective bases and influence the outcome of local leadership races [1, 2].

Park's tour included a rally in Daegu at the Chilseong Market on May 23, 2024 [1]. She continued her efforts with another rally in Busan at the Gijang Market on May 27, 2024 [1]. In addition to these cities, Park has scheduled stops in Ulsan, Gangwon, and the provinces of Chungcheong and Gyeongsang-nam-do [1, 2].

During her appearances, Park focused on rallying support for specific candidates, such as Park Min-sik. Addressing the crowd, Park said, "If you give our candidate Park Min-sik the opportunity to serve..." [2]. She also expressed a desire to provide comfort to the people, saying, "I wanted to give those people even a little bit of comfort" [2].

The stakes for the ruling party are high. Current projections suggest that out of 16 metropolitan local governments, up to 15 could be won by the opposition [1]. This potential shift in power has intensified the urgency for the People Power Party to mobilize its supporters through high-profile figures like Park.

President Lee Jae-myung has simultaneously increased his visibility through public outreach. This parallel activity by both the former and current presidents has turned the local elections into a broader test of political strength and ideological alignment within the country [1, 2].

“Analysts describe the race as a proxy war between the former and current presidents.”

The simultaneous campaigning by Park Geun-hye and Lee Jae-myung indicates that the local elections are serving as a barometer for national sentiment. With the opposition potentially capturing nearly all metropolitan governments, the People Power Party is leveraging Park's historical influence to prevent a total sweep, while Lee is using the momentum to strengthen his own mandate.