Soccer Like Stumping for June 13th Local Elections Attracts Attention

“Is it a stump or a soccer rooting? ”

A citizen said as above watching the campaign for local elections started with the candidate registration on the 28th.

Candidate wearing in the uniform of Korea national team appeared, and the catchword of Red Devils was rumbling in the campaigning places across the country. And the campaign promises like `the foundation of Soccer College` make it look like a campaign for the chairperson of football association.

As Korea national team fought well at recent evaluation games, and people are getting heated with the hope for World Cup second round, candidates are utilizing it for campaign. Stumping reminding of soccer rooting creates the synergism of soccer and politics by providing citizens with something to see, and increasing the World Cup fever.

The candidates for the mayor of Seoul, where opening game will be held, should include Gwanghwamun area, where large electric boards are installed, into their campaign tour places. Candidate Lee Myung-Bak from the Grand National Party (GNP) rooted for Korea against England and France with Red Devils wearing red shirt. Seoul mayoral candidate Kim Min-Seok along with Presidential runner Roh Moo-Hyun from the New Millennium Democratic Party also joined Red Devils.

Candidate Lee uses soccer terms like ` stumping kick off, ` `second round both in World Cup and in politics`. Campaign team of candidate Kim shouted the catchword ` Oh, Pilseung Kim Min-Seok` to the tune of Red Devils’ ` Oh pilseung Korea` at the first party campaign on the 28th.

Some runners meet people in soccer uniform, and use soccer in the pledge, catchphrase, or business cards.

Ahn Sang-Soo candidate for Incheon city mayor from GNP set up a character molding that candidate Ahn in red uniform is kicking a ball on the campaign car. Candidate Park Sang-Eun from NMDP added the game schedule of Korean team and the photo of a soccer ball in his calling card.

Hong Seon-Ki candidate for Daejeon city mayor from United Liberal Democrats has a catchphrase of `Hong Myong-Bo for World Cup, Hong Seon-Ki for Daejeon`. He tries to bring out his image of reliability utilizing reliable defender Hong Myong-Bo. Koo Cheon-Seo candidate for governor of North Chungcheong province from ULD pledged, “I will establish a soccer college with 20 soccer grounds on the 260,000 square meter site investing 25 billion won. ”

Candidates should grasp the content of the games in order to talk to voters under the topic of World Cup Games.

A runner in Chungcheong province added witness’ review to his speech, saying, “defense without Hong Myong-Bo was unstable, and Cha Doo-Ri was still inexperienced. ¡° Office worker Baek In-Tan (32), who has had no interest in politics so far, said, “a post of candidate in the uniform of Korea national team and the brochures containing the interesting stories of World Cup attract my attention better. ”

An official of publicizing company said, “candidates are making most of the World Cup to attract the attention of the youths. ”

However, an official from the runner for Jeju governor said, “we will decide whether to use World Cup or not after the first game, as bad score of Korea national team would annoy voters. ”