4.15 총선 후보자들 오늘부터 13일간 ‘열전 레이스’ 돌입
Candidates running in South Korea's April 15th General Elections have gone out onto the streets...looking to win over voters as the official campaigning period began on Thursday.
While all 300 seats at the National Assembly are up for grabs,...the battle between two former prime ministers for Seoul's central Jongno-gu District has been in the spotlight.
Our Kan Hyeong-woo files this report from central Seoul.
The official campaigning period for the April 15th General Election kicked off at the stroke of midnight on Thursday.
South Korea's election campaigns usually include large rallies and loud music.
But due to the coronavirus outbreak hindering every aspect of people's daily lives,... the election campaign has been relatively smaller and quieter this year.
Instead of handshakes, fistbumps have become the new normal for candidates and their supporters.
Seoul's central Jongno-gu District has been drawing much attention... because it has set up a clash between two former prime ministers - the ruling Democratic Party's Lee Nak-yon and the main opposition United Future Party's Hwang Kyo-ahn.
"My humble dream and pain of youth...and the experience and wisdom I learned when I was a prime minister. I'm very happy to put it all in Jongno. Please give me an opportunity to do that."
Historically, the battle for Jongno has been deemed crucial in terms of its political importance.
Three candidates who won in Jongno eventually became president.
"South Korea is falling apart. The people are feeling the damage. Votes come from the people. Then who would they vote for? They will not pick the current administration that's destroyed the government. So we will win."
For the upcoming general election,...1,430 registered candidates are running for 300 seats at the National Assembly.
The election result will likely be an indicator of voter sentiment ahead of the presidential election in 2022.
"The official campaigning period for the April 15th general election will continue until the day before the nation heads to the polling stations. Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News."
