By Yoo Dong-ho
Staff Reporter

The Uri Party on Tuesday went on emergency alert and intensified its low-profile tours in key constituencies in Kwangju, Seoul and Kyonggi Province to prompt the undecided young voters to turn out for Thursday’s polls.

The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) stumped Seoul to secure more votes in the hotly contested area, while the minor opposition Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) canvassed South Cholla Province to strengthen its stronghold.

On the second day of his hunger strike, the pro-government party chairman Chung Dong-young urged Uri’s candidates to go all out to galvanize support in the street campaign trails.

``Let’s do our utmost for the victory until the last drop of our sweat and tears has dried out. Our efforts to replace an old parliament-dominating power is about to burst like a bubble,’’ Chung said. ``Much-awaited political reform and national unity are now feared to go up in smoke.’’

On Monday, he stepped down as Uri’s chief campaign manager and gave up his candidacy for the parliament seat under the proportional representation system, seemingly to hold himself responsible for a slip of the tongue he made against senior citizens in their 60s and 70s.

Chung added that he will take responsibility for the election results, hinting that he will quit as leader if the Uri Party fares poorly in the polls. Rep. Kim Sung-ho, Chung’s secretary, said, ``Party officials came to the view that Chung will quit as chairman should the opposition forces which jointly pushed for the impeachment against President Roh Moo-hyun gain a majority in the polls.’’

Chung also rapped the GNP for using decade-long regional antagonism to get its message across. But the conservative party counterattacked, labeling Chung’s move as ``political tactics’’ aimed at regaining popularity, which has been faltering in the wake of Chung’s disparaging remarks toward elderly voters.

The MDP joined the fray. ``Chung’s move is nothing short of a political show to turn the table in its favor,’’ said party spokesman Park Joon-young.

With Chung keeping a low-profile at the party headquarters, Uri’s other campaign managers and key post-holders pulled out of all the stops in their sprint to the finishing line.

During campaigning in the fiercest battle fields in Inchon, Kimpo and Seoul, Uri’s floor leader Kim Geun-tae appealed to supporters and fence-sitters to help his party secure a majority mandate in the elections.

Uri Party’s another campaign manager Shin Ki-nam also has thrown all his support into street rallies in Seoul where Uri’s candidates face neck-and-neck tussles.

The Uri Party went all out, with its young candidates meeting as many voters as possible to increase the voter turn out and sway fence-sitters which are estimated to number around 30 percent.

yoodh@koreatimes.co.kr