In response to the recent explosion at Hanwha Aerospace in Daejeon and a toxic gas leak at SK Hynix in Cheongju, the leadership of the Democratic Party and the People Power Party announced on June 1 that they would suspend public campaign schedules.
Individual candidate camps have also opted to refrain from campaign songs, choreographed movements, and speeches using microphones, instead choosing to meet voters in a more subdued atmosphere. With just two days before the elections, both parties are taking a cautious approach, aware that inappropriate responses to safety incidents could negatively impact voter sentiment.
Jeong Cheong-rae, the Democratic Party's chief campaign manager, issued an urgent directive to all candidates to halt campaign activities nationwide immediately following the Hanwha Aerospace incident.
After presiding over a final central campaign committee meeting in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, Jeong planned to visit Goesan, Andong, and Ulsan. However, upon arriving in Goesan, he stated, "I have come to announce the urgent suspension of all national campaign activities. I hope everyone follows the central party's guidelines and remains calm. In a situation where lives are at stake, we cannot conduct our campaign as usual."
Jeong skipped a scheduled event to present campaign pledges for candidate Lee Cha-young in Goesan and proceeded to Andong, where he wore a black suit without a tie instead of the usual blue campaign attire. He made no remarks of support for Gyeongsangbuk-do governor candidate Oh Jung-ki or Andong mayor candidate Lee Sam-gyeol before heading directly to Daejeon, where the explosion occurred. His planned visit to Ulsan was canceled.
Jo Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's chief campaign headquarters director, stated at a press conference that afternoon, "The Democratic Party will actively cooperate in the recovery efforts following the incidents and will continue to conduct calm campaign activities during the remaining campaign period."
Seoul mayor candidate Oh Se-hoon also canceled his scheduled speeches at the Namseong Market in Dongjak-gu. However, policy meetings regarding redevelopment and reconstruction in Gangnam and Yongsan will proceed as planned.
The People Power Party's Jang Dong-hyuk, the chief campaign director, and co-director Song Eon-seok also canceled their public campaign schedules. Initially, the campaign leadership planned to visit Jeju and the metropolitan area to rally support, but following the collapse incident at Seosomun High School and the Hanwha Aerospace explosion, they shifted to a more restrained approach.
Jang instructed all candidate camps nationwide to refrain from using campaign songs and choreographed movements, emphasizing a calm campaign strategy. He expressed condolences on Facebook, stating, "I pray for the souls of those who tragically lost their lives in the incidents and extend my heartfelt condolences to their families. I wish for a swift recovery for the injured."
Jang has canceled his visit to Ulsan and plans to visit the Hanwha Aerospace facility in Daejeon instead.
Oh Se-hoon's campaign also announced, "We will completely ban choreographed movements and campaign songs during today's events, proceeding with a calm and quiet schedule." A press conference originally scheduled at the party headquarters in Yeouido to support Oh has also been postponed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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