Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Jeonbuk, a Democratic Party stronghold where independent candidate Kim Kwan-young is gaining momentum. Jung emphasized, "For the development of Jeonbuk to run like meshing gears, the Democratic Party must win the presidency, the governorship, the National Assembly seats, and the metropolitan and basic council seats."
On May 17 in the afternoon, Jung visited the opening of the Democratic Party candidate's campaign office for Park Ji-won in Gunsan, Gimje and Buan in Jeonbuk, and then attended the "Jeonbuk State party election countermeasures committee launch ceremony" held at Jeonju University in Jeonju, Jeonbuk.
At Park's campaign office, Jung said, "Jeonbuk State has a once-in-a-lifetime chance," adding, "If the Democratic Party wins the presidency, the governorship, the National Assembly seats, and the metropolitan and basic council seats, things will run smoothly like gears turning."
Jung said, "A hard-working President Lee Jae-myung and Jeonbuk must join forces to develop Saemangeum," adding, "With gubernatorial candidate Lee Won-taek, with Park, with Kim Eui-kyeom, the candidate for Gunsan·Gimje·Buan A in Jeonbuk, with Kim Jae-joon, the Gunsan mayoral candidate, and with all the Jeonbuk basic council candidates from the Democratic Party winning, that work will proceed in sync."
Later, taking part in the "Jeonbuk provincial party campaign committee launch ceremony" at Jeonju University, Jung said, "Gubernatorial candidate Lee Won-taek is a 'candidate for the Democratic Party, by the Democratic Party,'" adding, "When the party, government and presidential office move as one, Korea advances and the people advance."
Park then said, "I hope this does not become an election scene stained by an individual's petty desires, but one that moves further toward the values and world the Democratic Party pursues, and I ask everyone to join forces together."
In addition, Central Party joint campaign committee chair (supreme council member) Lee Sung-yoon said, "What individual or other force besides the Democratic Party could play the crucial role of rallying strength so that state affairs can be run?" and emphasized, "An enormous opportunity has come for the first time in 100 years, and President Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party, and Jeonbuk provincial party candidate Lee Won-taek must unite as one team to seize this opportunity."
Meanwhile, the "Pan-provincial countermeasures council to stop Jung Chung-rae's personal factionalization" held protests at various sites Jung visited, including Jeonju University, on the day. Na Chun-gyun, head of the Pan-provincial countermeasures council to stop Jung Chung-rae's personal factionalization, criticized, saying, "Lee Won-taek's misconduct has been revealed and it was overlooked," and asked, "Why do you keep refusing to make him step down as the Democratic Party candidate?"