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 emphasized "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." He 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., as his first campaign stop, he visited the Gangseo public bus depot in Gangseo District, Seoul, met early-morning bus drivers, and encouraged workers. He also joined citizens taking the subway on their morning 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 costs and rent, saying, "Do you eat breakfast often?"
Student A said, "Rent in the Sinchon area is one thing, but they also charge 150,000 won just for the management fee for a one-room." Chong noted, "Because there is a legal cap on rent, they raise the management fee, and since neither the central nor local governments manage it, it becomes an unfair transaction."
A also said they are a Seongdong District resident and "use 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 a day."
That day, in addition to "safety," Chong also tended to issues of 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 their "rent difficulties" there, he said, "We will revise the Lease Protection Act to fix the system under which those with converted deposits currently over 900 million won are not protected." He also said he would make Mullae-dong a commercial district with unique appeal, not "a second Seongsu."
Asked "how he would resolve bottlenecks in maintenance projects within the first 100 days after taking office," Chong answered, "I will distribute the authority over licensing processes concentrated in the Seoul city government." He referred to his pledge to transfer licensing authority for complexes with fewer than 500 households to district chiefs.
Around lunchtime at 11:40 a.m., Chong visited 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 participating in early voting," while also urging people to vote, saying, "The main vote remains."
He climbed onto the campaign vehicle 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 judge by voting."
From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Chong continued a walking campaign at traditional markets located in Dongdaemun, Jongno, Jung, and Yongsan districts.
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 greeted her warmly, saying, "What a coincidence to meet here." C said, "If my husband had seen you, he would have been so happy. He said he would go to Cheonggyecheon (the campaign) later; how nice it would have been if we had met here."
Asked "what the final campaign strategy is," Chong said, "In the end, it's about chasing everything," adding, "It's not a special strategy; being truly sincere and desperate and doing our utmost seems to be the best strategy."
Chong plans to hold an all-out stump speech at Cheonggye Plaza in Jung District, Seoul, at 7 p.m. He will then conduct a walking campaign from 9 p.m., touring the food alley in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam District, and the Cheonho Rodeo Street alleys in Gangdong District.
After finishing a roundtable with the citizens' voluntary crime prevention unit 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.