Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae began official election campaigning Thursday with a series of visits to key battleground districts in Seoul [1].
These moves signal a high-stakes effort to mobilize voters in the "Han River Belt," a critical swing region where the outcome often determines the overall legislative balance. By targeting these areas on the first day of the campaign, the party seeks to establish early momentum and frame the election as a referendum on the current administration.
Jung began his activities at midnight [1]. He traveled through the Han River Belt, including Gwangjin-gu and Dongjak-gu, as well as the Jungwon region [1]. Following these visits, he traveled to meet with the party's candidates for governor of Chungnam Province and mayor of Daejeon [1].
Throughout his tour, Jung used the slogan "judgment on the rebellion" to describe the necessity of the vote [2]. He specifically targeted the People Power Party, criticizing what he described as their nomination processes. Jung said, “Do not give a single vote to the People Power Party, which has practiced ‘Yoon Again’ nominations” [2].
Jung was accompanied by floor leader Han Byung-do during these visits [1]. The leadership's presence in these contested zones suggests a strategic focus on urban centers, and regional hubs to maximize turnout among undecided voters.
The "Yoon Again" criticism refers to the party's perceived tendency to nominate candidates closely aligned with the presidency, a move Jung argues alienates the broader electorate [1]. By framing the election around this issue, the Democratic Party aims to paint the ruling party as out of touch with public sentiment.
““Judgment on the rebellion””
The focus on the Han River Belt and Jungwon regions indicates that the Democratic Party views these specific urban corridors as the decisive battlegrounds for the election. By utilizing aggressive rhetoric regarding 'rebellion' and nomination practices, the party is attempting to transform a standard electoral contest into a moral and political judgment of the ruling party's legitimacy.
