Chong Won-o, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, on the 2nd, a day before the June 3 local elections' main vote, toured nine districts in Seoul and stressed "a safe Korea." Until midnight, Chong plans to visit three more districts—Gangnam, Gangdong and Songpa—to continue his final stump speeches.
Chong appealed that day, "Only voting can turn citizens' wishes into reality." Chong repeatedly shouted, "Please change the Seoul mayor" and "I will work hard."
Even a day before the main vote, Chong emphasized "safety." At 6:30 a.m., for his first campaign stop, he visited the Gangseo public bus garage in Gangseo District, Seoul, met early-morning bus drivers and encouraged workers. He also joined citizens on their subway commute.
Then at 8:50 a.m., he visited Yonsei University in Seodaemun District, Seoul, and ate with students. Meeting a Yonsei student identified as A, Chong asked about food expenses and rent, and asked, "Do you often eat breakfast?"
Student A said, "Rent around Sinchon is one thing, but they charge 150,000 won just for maintenance fees for a one-room place," expressing frustration. Chong noted, "Because there is a legal cap on rent, they raise maintenance fees, and since neither the central nor local governments manage this, it becomes an unfair transaction."
A also said the student is a resident of Seongdong District and "uses the Success Bus (Seongdong District public shuttle bus) well." Chong said, "If elected, I will create buses that follow subway lines as they are to make Seoul safe 24 hours."
That day, in addition to "safety," Chong also showed moves to address reconstruction and redevelopment, and gentrification.
At 10:30 a.m., Chong visited Mullae Creative Village and held a roundtable with four merchants engaged in the restaurant and arts businesses in Mullae.
When merchants voiced "rent hardships" at the meeting, he said, "We will revise the Lease Protection Act to fix the system under which those with converted deposits above 900 million won are not protected." He also said he would develop Mullae-dong into a commercial district with its own unique appeal, not "a second Seongsu."
When asked, "How will you resolve bottlenecks in maintenance projects within the first 100 days after taking office?" Chong answered, "We will decentralize the permitting authority concentrated in the Seoul Metropolitan Government." He referred to a pledge to transfer permitting authority for complexes with fewer than 500 households to district chiefs.
Around lunchtime at 11:40 a.m., Chong visited the area in front of Yeouido Post Office in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, where office workers gather, and launched an intensive stump speech. There, he said, "Thank you for turning out for early voting," while also urging people to vote, saying, "The main vote remains."
He climbed onto the campaign truck and shouted, "Replace Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who has shown 10 years of incompetence, irresponsibility and complacency, and, if you want to build a safer, more convenient and happier Seoul, be sure to render judgment at the ballot box."
From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Chong visited traditional markets in Dongdaemun, Jongno, Jung and Yongsan districts and continued a walking campaign.
During the stump speech at Jung District's Yaksu Market, Chong also met C, the wife of a teacher from his alma mater, Yeosu High School. Trailing off, he said, "What a coincidence to meet here," and expressed delight. C said, "If my husband had seen you, he would have been so happy; he said he's going to Cheonggyecheon (stump speech) later—how nice it would have been to meet here."
Asked "what is your final campaign strategy," Chong said, "In the end, it's about chasing everything," adding, "It's not a special strategy; truly being sincere and desperate and doing our utmost seems like the best strategy."
Chong plans to hold an all-out stump speech at Cheonggye Plaza in Jung District, Seoul, at 7 p.m. After that, from 9 p.m., he will conduct walking campaigns through the food alley in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam District, and through the alleys of Cheonho Rodeo Street in Gangdong District.
After finishing a roundtable with the citizens' voluntary crime-prevention patrol and late-night bus workers, Chong is scheduled to hold his final stump speech at the Bokjeong Station transfer center at 11:40 p.m.