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「Guests: Jang Yoon-mi, Democratic Party spokesperson · Lee Jun-woo, People Power Party media spokesperson」 An explosion at Hanwha Aerospace’s Daejeon plant killed five people and injured two. Both parties immediately canceled or scaled back campaign events. With the election looming, we speak with Jang Yoon-mi, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, and Lee Jun-woo, media spokesperson for the People Power Party, about the final variables that could decide the race. 「Question 1」 Parties that had planned full-scale campaigns have suspended or moderated rallies after the Hanwha Aerospace blast in Daejeon. Political actors tend to move quickly in response to safety incidents that occur around election time. How do you assess this response? 「Question 2」 As the election approaches, former conservative presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye—figures who have rarely appeared at official events—are increasingly visible on the campaign trail. Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae criticized Lee, Park, and former President Yoon Suk Yeol as a “trio of prisoners,” while on the opposition side, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo called their behavior unbecoming of former presidents. Despite mixed public reactions, can these returns of former presidents effectively consolidate conservative voters who have drifted away? What’s your view? 「Question 2-1」 Former President Lee Myung-bak appealed for support for Oh Se-hoon at Seoul Forest in Seongdong—considered the political home of Democratic candidate Jeong Won-oh—but Oh did not appear alongside him. How do you interpret that absence? 「Question 3」 As the campaign enters its final stretch, exchanges between politicians have grown more heated. We will continue our discussion after airing remarks from party leaders. 「Question 3-1」 Before the Daejeon accident, party leaders were focused on courting undecided voters in the closing days of the campaign. How do you evaluate the leaders’ recent movements and statements? 「Question 4」 Both sides invested heavily in the Honam region over the weekend, underscoring how closely they are watching that area. Former party leader Song Young-gil stirred controversy when he described independent candidate Kim Kwan-young as “a smart pick” and effectively “a government-aligned candidate.” What do you make of senior party figures appearing to publicly defend an independent candidate? 「Question 5」 In Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, a dispute erupted over who the legitimate Democratic candidate is. The Jo Guk Innovation Party claimed even traditional Democratic voters view its candidate as aligned with the broader ruling coalition, and accused Democratic candidate Kim Yong-nam of opportunistically changing party affiliation. Kim responded by branding his accusers as criminals. Could these clashes derail efforts at candidate unification or complicate any post-election merger? 「Question 6」 Turning to other battlegrounds: the race between Democratic candidate Kim Boo-kyum and People Power candidate Choo Kyung-ho remains fiercely contested. Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo endorsed Kim, saying Kim is the person who will complete the new airport project, while Choo has mobilized voters with support tied to former President Park Geun-hye. With Daegu recording one of the lowest early-voting rates, the direction of voter turnout there is particularly consequential. How do you assess the dynamics in Daegu? 「Question 7」 Another by-election hotspot, Busan Buk-gap, has grown tense in the final days. Candidate Han Dong-hoon framed the contest as a battle against avatars of Lee Jae-myung and Jang Dong-hyuk. Is he attempting to consolidate People Power supporters while directing his attacks primarily at Jang Dong-hyuk? What’s your read on the situation in Busan Buk-gap? For Yonhap News TV inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23; Choi Byung-yoon (yoonique@yna.co.kr)
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