With three days left until the June 3 local elections, the Seoul mayoral candidates from the ruling and opposition parties launched an all-out push on the 31st to win over voters in the final stretch. Marking the last weekend that could sway the race, the two candidates moved between Gangnam and Gangbuk, focusing on rallying their bases and courting undecided voters.
Chong Won-o, the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul mayoral candidate, began the day by attending a church service in Seongdong District, then continued his campaign in the morning by meeting residents at Paris Park in Yangcheon District.
At Paris Park in Yangcheon District, Chong said, "This election will decide whether, together with President Lee Jae-myung, we make Seoul a better place to live, or whether the city goes in a direction where the mayor, at the center of political strife, clashes with the president and fuels conflict," adding, "Use your votes to judge 10 years of the incompetent Oh Se-hoon, and support Chong Won-o, who will join hands with the Lee Jae-myung administration to lead Seoul's development."
In the afternoon, he visited Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro District and, referencing the missing rebar incident at the Great Train Express (GTX)-A Samseong Station, said, "Saying it's someone else's fault, not mine, is the mark of an irresponsible leader." He added, "Can citizens forgive an irresponsible mayor?" and said, "If you cannot forgive, then you must replace."
Afterward, Chong is set to meet residents in Gangdong District, Seokchon Lake in Songpa District, Jamsu Bridge, and Sinchon in Seodaemun District. At 8 p.m., he will return to Seongdong District for a walking rally in Seongsu-dong.
Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party also crisscrossed Seoul east to west, continuing a grueling schedule through eight districts. In the morning, he started at his campaign office in Jongno District and expanded his outreach by visiting Gwangjin and Gangdong districts.
At Achasan in Gwangjin District, he took photos with hikers and greeted them, appealing for support by saying, "Please help us, please make sure to vote." At Amsa General Market, he took the stage and said, "They say the stock market jumped to 7,000 points, 8,000 points, but did any cash go into your pockets?" adding, "We are in a situation where we have to tighten our belts because of rising jeonse and monthly rents."
He also criticized the Lee Jae-myung administration's housing policy, saying, "With heavy taxation and loan restrictions, jeonse listings have disappeared, leading to the conversion of jeonse to monthly rent and rising monthly rents," and added, "This is a highly irresponsible policy, a very short-term stopgap born of election calculations. Now that the election is over, I will speak up and demand it be withdrawn."
After that, Oh plans to make successive stops at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, the Dongmyo Flea Market in Jongno District, Hongje Falls in Seodaemun District, and Times Square in Yeongdeungpo District. In the evening, he will hold campaign events at Jamsu Bridge and Banpo Hangang Park.