[Report] "Why Did You Get Your Hair Done Like This?" From Greetings to Hugs... Hyungjun Park Walks Through Every Alley

On the morning of the 27th at Bujeon Market in Busan, an elderly vendor who appeared to be over eighty gazed at People Power Party Busan mayoral candidate Hyungjun Park's short haircut and, with teary eyes, remarked in the Gyeongsang dialect, "Why did you get your hair done like this?" It was a mix of protest and sympathy over what had compelled him to shave his head.

On this seventh day of Park's "Walking Among the People" campaign, as he appeared at Bujeon Market and Seomyeon Underground Shopping Center, crowds of citizens quickly gathered around him, filling the alleys with excitement.

Park greeted the vendors in the Busan dialect, saying, "Hello," "I'll do my best," and "Please help me a little," while exchanging hugs and handshakes throughout the market. The atmosphere was less that of a typical campaign and more like neighbors reuniting after a long time apart.

Many vendors expressed concern, saying, "Why have you lost so much weight?" Park kept bowing his head and promised, "I'll come back again." He made a special effort to meet the citizens' gaze, hoping to convey his determination to protect the everyday life of Busan.

Busan mayoral candidate Hyungjun Park is tasting seafood handed to him by a merchant at Jagalchi Market in Busan on the morning of the 27th.

Earlier, a similar atmosphere was seen at BIFF Square in Nampo-dong, Jung-gu. As Park appeared, cheers erupted from various parts of the street. People of all ages welcomed him, from a couple in their fifties approaching, saying, "Oh my, isn't this Mayor Park? Let's shake hands," to a woman in her twenties shouting, "It's Hyungjun Park!" and requesting a selfie with her smartphone. Park responded with his signature bright smile and a nod as he moved along.

During this campaign, Park's approach has been summed up as a "walking campaign." Instead of campaigning atop vehicles, he has chosen to walk directly into the everyday spaces of citizens.

A recent campaign in Seogu's Kkotmaeul was a prime example. Starting at dawn, Park pushed himself with a grueling schedule, visiting Gaya Park and the Children’s Grand Park, and even climbed a steep alleyway on foot until he was out of breath. At his side was his son, wearing a vest labeled "Hyungjun Park's son."

Citizens sitting in a restaurant after hiking expressed their surprise, saying, "You came all the way here!" Park made sure to visit each of about 20 shops in the alley, shaking hands with everyone he met. He made the most of his ability to connect with people at every stop. There were even scenes where he showed popularity rivaling that of a celebrity.

At the Busan Citizens Park Family Festival, he personally rolled a bowling ball and scored a strike, earning applause from the crowd. Passing high school students offered him snacks along with words of encouragement, saying, "Stay strong!"

The intersection in front of Sajik Baseball Stadium, where the Lotte Giants game was held, was packed with people, and when Park climbed onto the campaign vehicle and pledged to "build a state-of-the-art Sajik Stadium at the level of Major League Baseball," fans responded with loud cheers. Requests for photos kept coming, creating a lively and entertaining scene at the campaign site.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.