So, less than a week 'till voters head to the polls... and early voting set to start
its two-day run tomorrow... candidates around the country are out in full force to try and
win over voters.
But with many electorates expected to be a neck-and-neck, campaign tactics that stand
out are a must.
Kwon Jang-ho has our news feature tonight.
Campaign season is usually a colorful time in Korea, with plenty of singing and dancing.
And there are always some rather unique sights, as candidates go the extra mile to try and
catch the public's attention.
In Sejong City, the Saenuri Party candidate, Park Jong-joon , has enlisted the help of
an "air avatar."
It greets drivers on the road and lights up at night, attracting the attention of old
and young alike.
"When candidates just give out campaign business cards and strike up conversations, it can
feel awkward, but with the avatar, it makes people more comfortable."
In Seoul's Dongdaemun B district, Minjoo Party candidate Min Byung-do is generating interest
by donning a safety helmet with a camera attached, as he greets the public.
"By sticking a camera onto my helmet, I promise to become the people's CCTV.
I will keep people safe.
That's the message I want to give."
Back in Sejong City, the People's Party candidate, Koo Sung-mo, has been seen riding on some
fancy wheels and waving at the public with his three-fingered gloves, denoting the party's
ballot number.
Inflatable look-a-likes of the candidate also roam the streets, engaging voters.
"We said we needed to break with convention -- in other words, do something new.
So we explored new ideas, and what was feasible, and we came up with this electric scooter."
And Justice Party candidates have had help from their campaign mascot, "Ddam-dol-ee,"
named and modeled after beads of sweat.
"The Justice Party is known as a party that represents workers.
We thought about what symbol could be associated with people who work hard, and we realized
that it was sweat."
"The candidates are doing everything they can to try and stand out from the crowd.
And alongside the campaigns for individual candidates, the parties are also using catchy
campaign songs, designed to reinforce their message."
The Saenuri Party has incorporated its campaign slogan 'Run National Assembly ' into a cover
of a popular 70s golden oldie.
"We want to tell Korean citizens that for these elections, we will be 'running' hard
and working hard."
The main opposition party has taken inspiration from its official name, THE Minjoo Party of
Korea.
"The 'deo' stands for the 'the' in our name, but it also means 'more' or 'better' in Korean.
It has that dual meaning behind it."
The minority People's Party has looked to childhood nostalgia for its theme song.
"Robot Taekwon V was a cartoon in the seventies that gave many students dreams of the future,
dreams of justice, science, those kinds of positive messages.
We wanted to represent all those elements together."
And the Justice Party has put its own twist on a popular jingle, with a dance routine
to go along with it.
"We chose the song because we wanted to show the joyous side of the Justice Party."
With the parties and candidates all fighting to have their message heard, the campaigns
are getting loud in both a literal and figurative sense, and it's drawing a mixed reaction from
the public.
"When they use those loudspeakers, you can't even understand what they're saying.
It just makes the whole area noisy.
I really wish they wouldn't do it "
"I think it's a good thing for the candidates to actually walk around and interact with
the people."
"I feel they're investing too much into these campaign songs.
Instead of promoting their pledges, they're promoting themselves and the characters they're
playing."
Finding the right balance between outlining policy and attracting attention is a challenge
for any campaign.
The parties and their candidates need to be careful they don't drive voters away by trying
too hard.
Kwon Jang-ho, Arirang News.