'Ban-tan' Kim Moon-soo vs 'Chan-tan' Han Dong-hoon… A Display of Strength as Different as Their Political Positions

As the ruling party's presidential primary has narrowed down to a showdown between candidates Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon, their "pull-up skills" have become a trending topic online. Reflecting their political differences, they have adopted contrasting positions regarding the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Candidate Kim is a leading figure opposing impeachment, while Candidate Han is categorized as someone in favor.

Recently, it has drawn attention that both candidates revealed their respective fitness levels. As they were selected as the final candidates for the second round of the primary, reactions online suggest a mix of humor, stating, “While policies are important, strength is also a competitive advantage.”

“I can do 6,” “I can do 30”… Calls for a live demonstration continue.

On the 2nd, Candidate Kim revealed a video on a Facebook page run by a supporter, showing him performing 6 pull-ups. At the age of 74, Kim demonstrated a relatively stable posture while repeatedly performing the exercise, dispelling concerns about his age.

In an interview with YTN on the 16th, he confidently stated, “Let’s elect a president who can do a lot of pull-ups.”

Candidate Han also sparked discussion during a livestream on YouTube by claiming, “Doing about 30 pull-ups is not difficult.” However, he has yet to release an actual video.

Supporters of Han Dong-hoon demand proof to overcome the Democratic Party's 'cheap attacks'

In response, netizens have voiced the need for "verification." Candidate Kim provided a video of himself performing pull-ups, while Candidate Han has only made verbal claims, prompting calls from the public for him to show proof.

The title of "presidential candidate who can do 30 pull-ups" is seen as historically significant in South Korea, garnering support from many.

One supporter of Han expressed, “If he doesn’t prove he can do 30 pull-ups, the Democratic Party’s agitators will launch more low-quality attacks,” adding that “there’s a need to silence those vile instigators, so please upload the video as soon as possible,” which resonated with many.

Another supporter commented, “Even posting shorts would boost his approval ratings,” stating that “a president who can do 30 pull-ups could be the first in the world.”

The opposition mocks… "Is the primary now a test of strength?"

The opposition party has responded to the ongoing "pull-up debate" with sarcasm. Lee Jun-ho, a senior member of the Democratic Party, posted on his Facebook on the 29th, “Now Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon can compete with pull-ups,” and sarcastically suggested, “Since Candidate Han claims he can do about 30, let’s promote an actual competition for the entertainment value.”

Some critics argue that focusing on physical strength or image over policy detracts from the essence of politics. However, others interpret it as a means of engaging with the public.

As the heat of the presidential primary rises, voters are watching closely to see how they will evaluate the "weight of policy" against the appeal of physical capabilities.

Image source: News1, Han Dong-hoon's YouTube, youtube 'People Power Party TV'