SEOUL, Rival parties hit the streets to woo voters in the central, eastern and southeastern provinces Tuesday, as they stepped up campaigning for next week’s parliamentary elections about a week away.

Ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon called for “unity” ahead of the elections, amid a party division over President Yoon Suk Yeol’s uncompromising stance on the prolonged doctors’ strike in Monday’s national address, though he left a hint of flexibility open.

“Now is the time that we stand united ahead of the important battle,” Han said during a campaign in the Cheonan and Dangjin areas in South Chungcheong Province, about 80 kilometers south of Seoul.

“Some say harsh things, like who has got to leave the party and who should take the blame,” Han said. “Making excuses does not help anyone but only discourages the people who trust us.”

His remark came after some PPP candidates called for Yoon to drop out of the party, complaining that his hard-line approach to the doctors protesting against
the government’s plan to increase the medical school admissions quota has only worked against the party in the run-up to the elections.

“It’s all my responsibility if there is anything lacking,” Han said, vowing reform that will “save South Korea and the people.”

Han also lashed out at former President Moon Jae-in for the remark he made the previous day about the Yoon government that he had “never seen a government doing things this badly in 70 years of my life.”

“I want to return that comment,” Han said. “Doesn’t he remember the country was being ruined during the Moon Jae-in government? … And that person comes out and says he hasn’t seen anything like this in 70 years? It’s absolutely deplorable,” he said.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) went canvassing in the eastern Gangwon Province, the central North Chungcheong Province, as well as the Daegu and North Gyeongsang regions, considered the party’s weak spots, appealing for voter support.

The DP’s campaigning Tuesday took place without party
leader Lee Jae-myung as Lee had to attend a court hearing over corruption charges stemming from his tenure as mayor of Seongnam, south of Seoul.

On his way to the court, Lee appeared on a YouTube channel talking to a DP candidate over the phone in a show of support.

Kim Boo-kyum, co-chair of the DP’s election campaign committee, took the lead in Tuesday’s canvassing.

Other minor parties, including the New Reform Party (NRP), formed by former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok, announced their election pledges as part of the campaign efforts.

The NRP proposed reform initiatives for future science technologies, centering on more stable funding for state research institutes and building big data infrastructure.

The progressive Jinbo Party pledged to introduce better insurance schemes “for all,” including those with temporary jobs, like delivery people and after-school teachers.

The Korea Innovation Party, led by disgraced former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, unveiled housing, tax and other benefits targeting middle-aged
voter groups.

Source: Yonhap News Agency