So we're just five days away from June 13th local elections here in Korea... and rival parties are giving it their all in hopes of wooing as many voters as possible -- with their campaigning now targeting swing regions,... and hotly contested battlegrounds.<br />For more on this, we're now joined by our political correspondent Kim Min-ji in the studio with us today.<br />Hello Min-ji.<br /><br /><br /> Some voters will be casting their votes today... so parties don't actually have that much time left.<br /><br /> That's right.<br />Given that they can only campaign until the day before election day,... rival parties have just four days left now.<br /> To give viewers a brief recap -- some 4-thousand seats are up for grabs,... including 17 metropolitan mayors and provincial governors.<br />By-elections are also being held for 12 vacant districts.<br /><br /> The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is starting today in the liberal stronghold of Jeolla-do Province.<br />The main opposition Liberty Korea Party is campaigning in Gyeongsangnam-do Province -- a traditional conservative stronghold but now one of the most contested areas.<br />The party has been taking a two track approach to reverse the ruling party's lead in the opinion polls -- with lawmakers supporting campaigning,... and the leadership focusing on issue making.<br />The minor parties are also out and about nationwide, from the southern parts up to the capital,... attempting to secure a greater voter base,... and encouraging people to cast their votes.<br />But mind you the races for mayor and governor are mainly seen as a competition between the two largest parties. <br />
