Jeong Cheong-rae, Jang Dong-hyuk Concentrate Election Campaigning on Chungcheong Region

During the official campaign period for the 6th National Simultaneous Local Elections, Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk designated the Chungcheong region as a core area for their electioneering. The Chungcheong region is considered an important area for gauging public sentiment due to its relatively balanced support for different parties. The focus by leaders from both parties on Chungcheong highlights the region's political significance and the areas where each party is strategically investing efforts for electoral victory. This suggests that the shifting public mood in Chungcheong, where voter allegiance is relatively less fixed, could influence election outcomes.

Leader Jeong Cheong-rae conducted intensive campaigning, visiting the Chungnam, Chungbuk, and Daejeon areas 13 times from May 21 to June 1, a period of 12 days. Leader Jang Dong-hyuk also dedicated approximately one-third of his total schedule to the Chungcheong region, making 8 visits during the same period to secure voter support. By June 1, Jang had visited Chungnam four times, Daejeon three times, and Sejong once, totaling 8 visits to the Chungcheong region.

Both leaders poured their efforts into winning the hearts of voters in the Chungcheong region, which is seen as a 'political 'jungwon' (a strategic central area in warfare) for gauging public sentiment due to its weaker partisan support. However, Leader Jeong strategically avoided visiting the Yeongnam region (Daegu, Busan, Ulsan), where conservative support is strong. This concentrated campaigning in Chungcheong is analyzed as a strategic decision to influence election results in the Seoul metropolitan area and Yeongnam region, compounded by the fact that Leader Jang Dong-hyuk's constituency (Boryeong-Seocheon, Chungnam) is located within the Chungcheong region.

A party official stated that if Leader Jang were to visit Busan amidst a situation where conservatives were rallying due to the visits of former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak to Busan, it could create a negative dynamic in his relationship with candidate Han Dong-hoon. The fact that Jang's plan to campaign in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the 26th was canceled due to internal opposition, and that Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon did not request campaign support, is interpreted as reflecting a situation where Jang's specific actions were unlikely to elicit a positive response in other regions.