Jang Dong-hyuk, Jung Chung-rae Clash on First Day of Election Campaign

On May 21, the first official day of campaigning for the June 13 local elections and by-elections, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, encountered Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae at Sanseong Market in Gongju, Chungnam, leading to a tense exchange. While campaigning for People Power Party candidates, Jang urged his supporters to cheer loudly as Jung's entourage passed. In response, slogans such as 'Oppose indictment withdrawal' and 'Oppose trial withdrawal' were heard from the Democratic Party side. Jang remarked that the Democratic Party leader and candidates 'always pass through this spot' on their way.

With both leaders present at the same time and place, supporters in blue election attire from the Democratic Party and those in red from the People Power Party were seen walking together. One supporter in blue even requested a photo with Jang.

Meanwhile, Jang Dong-hyuk attended a 'Victory Send-off for Daejeon Citizens' event, introducing himself as 'the son of Daejeon, the son of Chungcheong' to appeal to local voters. Jang spending the first day of his campaign in the Chungcheong region is seen as a strategy to secure victory in South Chungcheong Province, where his approval ratings have recently tightened. A poll conducted by NewsPim and Realmeter in the South Chungcheong region showed a neck-and-neck race within the margin of error, with Democratic Party candidate Park Soo-hyun at 43.5% and People Power Party candidate Kim Tae-heum at 43.9%.