0
Kim Moon-soo, presidential candidate of the People Power Party, poses for a commemorative photo with merchants during a visit to Garak Market in Seoul on April 12, the first day of official campaigning for the 21st presidential election. / Source: Yonhap News

Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, launched his campaign at dawn on April 12 at Garak Market in Songpa District, Seoul, pledging to become “a market president, a people’s president, and a president who will make Korea thrive.”

Speaking with reporters during his visit around 5 a.m., Kim said, “Here at Garak Market, I could truly feel how difficult the economy and people’s lives have become. This was a vivid reality that no statistical indicator can capture.”

He added, “I will build a Korea where those who work hard can live happily—where people who labor won’t be driven to despair but can live with hope and dignity.”

Explaining his choice of Garak Market as the first stop of his campaign, Kim said, “The market is the heart of the economy and a barometer of people’s livelihoods. I came to gain insight and find direction on how to reverse this downward economic spiral.”

Meeting with merchants earlier in the day, Kim emphasized his commitment to addressing livelihood issues, saying, “People don’t dine out if they don’t have children. The real issue is that we don’t even have kids anymore. The country only survives when business thrives and markets flourish.”

When asked about his current polling gap with Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, Kim said, “I’ve contested many elections. When I first ran for the National Assembly, I was in third place at the beginning, but I surged ahead just three days before the vote. Presidential elections are incredibly dynamic.” He added, “Politics may seem dirty, but it can also write the most beautiful dramas. That’s why I believe I’ll win this election.”

Joining Kim on his first day of official campaigning were PPP lawmakers including emergency committee appointee Kim Yong-tae, as well as Lee Man-hee, Bae Hyun-jin, and Park Jung-hoon.

Following the market visit, Kim is scheduled to chair a Central Election Committee meeting at party headquarters in Yeouido, then visit the Daejeon National Cemetery to pay respects to the fallen from the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Yeonpyeong shelling, and the Cheonan warship incident.

He will then travel to the Daejeon regional party office for a campaign launch in the Chungcheong region, followed by a rally at Seomun Market in Daegu, a conservative stronghold, where he plans to focus on economic and livelihood issues.