1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson discusses the heated “frame war” among the three major candidates – Lee Jae-myung, Kim Moon-soo, and Yoon Seok-yeol – as their poll numbers fluctuate in the final stretch of the election campaign.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 요동치다 | yodongchida | to fluctuate, to be unstable | The poll numbers are fluctuating wildly. |
| 프레임 전쟁 | peuremeu jeonjaeng | a “frame war”, a battle over political framing | The candidates are engaged in a heated “frame war”. |
| 가열되다 | gayeoldeuda | to intensify, to heat up | The “frame war” is heating up as the election approaches. |
| 반감 | bangam | antipathy, dislike | The candidate is trying to maximize the public’s dislike of his opponents. |
| 역전 | yeokjeon | a comeback, a reversal | The candidate is hoping for a comeback and a reversal of the poll numbers. |
| 동탄 모델 | dongtanmodeul | the “Dongtanmodel”, a strategy of maximizing opposition to rivals | The candidate is focusing on the “Dongtanmodel” to try to stage a comeback. |
| 결집 | gyeoljip | unity, cohesion | The candidate’s supporters are becoming more unified as the election approaches. |
| 단일화 | danilhwa | unification, consolidation | The possibility of the candidates unifying into a single ticket is a key factor. |
| 오차범위 | ochapangwi | margin of error | The candidate’s lead is outside the margin of error in a hypothetical one-on-one matchup. |
| 방탄 독재 | bangtandongjae | “bulletproof dictatorship”, an entrenched political establishment | The candidate vowed to “break down the bulletproof dictatorship”. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
후보들의 지지율이 요동치는 가운데 이재명, 김문수, 이준석 후보 간 ‘프레임 전쟁’이 가열되고 있다. 개혁신당 이준석 후보는 앞선 두 후보에 대한 반감을 극대화해 역전을 노리는 ‘동탄 모델’에 주력하고 있다.
As the candidates’ poll numbers fluctuate, a heated “frame war” is unfolding between Lee Jae-myung, Kim Moon-soo, and Yoon Seok-yeol. Yoon Seok-yeol, the candidate of the Reform Party, is focusing on the “Dongtanmodel” strategy of maximizing public dislike of his two leading rivals in order to stage a comeback.
선거일이 다가올수록 지지층의 결집이 가속하는 가운데 김문수·이준석 후보의 단일화 여부 등 막판 변수도 주목된다.
As the election day approaches, the unity and cohesion of the candidates’ supporters is accelerating, and the possibility of a last-minute unification between Kim Moon-soo and Yoon Seok-yeol is also a key factor to watch.
수치는 조금씩 달랐지만, 이재명 후보의 ‘과반 지지율’이 깨진 가운데 김문수·이준석 후보가 추격하는 양상은 공통됐다.
While the exact numbers varied, the common trend was that Lee Jae-myung’s majority support was broken, and Kim Moon-soo and Yoon Seok-yeol were gaining ground.
단일화를 가정한 양자 대결에서도 오차범위 밖 우세다.
Even in a hypothetical one-on-one matchup after unification, the leading candidate maintains a lead outside the margin of error.
그는 지난 22일 “방탄 독재를 반드시 깨부술 것”이라고 말했다.
On the 22nd, he said, “I will definitely break down the ‘bulletproof dictatorship’.”
단일화에는 ‘깜깜이’ 직전 여론조사 추이가 최대 관건이 될 전망이다.
The trend of the final “blackout” opinion polls is expected to be the key factor in whether the candidates unify.
과거에는 ‘북풍’이었다면, 지금은 ‘중풍’인 상황”이라며 “중도층 소구를 위해서는 안보 선점이 중요하다”고 말했다.
Whereas in the past it was the “northern wind”, now it is the “central wind”, and he said “securing the initiative on security issues is important to appeal to the centrist voters”.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What is the “frame war” that the article describes?
- What is the “Dongtanmodel” strategy that the Reform Party candidate is focusing on?
- How have the poll numbers been shifting among the three major candidates?
- What is the key factor regarding the possibility of unification between the candidates?
- What did the Reform Party candidate say about breaking down the “bulletproof dictatorship”?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The article discusses the heated political competition and strategic maneuvering among the major candidates in the final stretch of the election campaign. The “frame war” refers to the battle over political framing and narrative, which is a common feature of high-stakes elections. The references to “northern wind” and “central wind” are allusions to historical political dynamics in South Korea.