PPP's Kim continues targeting capital region with industry-friendly track record while merger still open

The conservative party's main contender was also in Gyeonggi-do area, where he touted his economic achievements during his time as governor there.

Meanwhile, despite the ballots already being printed, the merger is still on the table for the PPP.

Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the latest.

The capital region is yet again the People Power Party's candidate Kim Moon-soo's focus.

The region consisting of half of the nation's population is always a battleground region and Kim could be seeing some hope of winning votes in Gyeonggi-do Province especially as he served two terms as governor with a track record of job-making.

"During my eight years as Gyeonggi-do Governor, in total, I created 43-percent of all jobs in the nation. I created the most jobs and hosted Samsung's Pyeongtaek Chip complex, made Pangyo Technovalley, and LCD complexes for LG."

He in fact visited the Pyeongtaek Samsung Electronics campus himself.

The complex is known to be the largest in the world by land mass.

There he spoke of how he supported industries and that it's worrisome for him that Samsung and other big companies recently are leaving for other nations, such as the U.S., because of tariffs.

"Meanwhile, as he rallies around the province he's been trying to compare himself to his DP rival Lee Jae-myung, who was governor here more recently."

He's been putting the focus on the legal risks that arose from Lee's time as the mayor of a city in the province and a former governor of the province, while Kim has no legal issues from his terms.

As for the election landscape, the PPP believes that the DP's lead is narrowing compared to the beginning of the election campaign and in the next eight days, they are trying to make a comeback.

One big move, course, is left for the party.

The merger with the Reform Party.

"I propose that the Reform Party present its conditions for a potential merger. We are prepared to do everything we can to make it happen. And let me be clear — we are fully ready to embrace the Reform Party's policies for the younger generation, especially those in their 20s and 30s."

Of course, the ballots are already being printed, and the Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok's name will be on it regardless of the merger who, of course, says it won't happen.

Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.