Democratic Party Candidates Target Honam Region in Primary Push

Democratic Party presidential primary candidates intensified campaign visits to the Honam region during the first week of the traveling primary ^[1].

The region is viewed as the decisive battleground for the primary, making it the primary target for candidates racing to secure critical voter support ^[1].

Campaign activities spanned several key locations, including the Gwangju traditional market and the towns of Namwon, Jeongeup, Gimje, and Iksan ^[1]. The visits involved a series of rallies and meetings with local residents to address regional concerns.

During these events, candidates engaged in heated intra-faction exchanges. These interactions were characterized by the use of harsh language as rivals vied for dominance in the region ^[1].

Candidate Jeong Cheong-rae focused on legislative solutions during his engagements. "I will create a TF that can solve this problem with the members of the Public Administration and Security Committee. If necessary, we will even create a law," Jeong said ^[1].

Another candidate, Kim Min-seok, addressed long-standing regional infrastructure issues. He focused on the Saemangeum project, which he described as a source of "hope torture" for residents. "I will set the direction to finalize the Saemangeum issue, which has only provided hope torture, in the shortest possible period," Kim said ^[1].

The focus on Honam underscores the strategic importance of the region's voting bloc in determining the party's leadership. Candidates are attempting to balance aggressive attacks on their opponents with specific policy promises to local constituents ^[1].