An Hee-jung, a candidate for the upcoming South Korean presidential election, arrives at a debate in Seoul on Wednesday. A Gallup Korea poll issued on Friday showed An closing the gap on fellow Democratic Party member Moon Jae-in, who leads 29% to 19%. As two-term governor of South Chungcheong province, the same area Ban is from, he is picking up regional support as well as backing from older voters who tend to lean conservative. Supporters have nicknamed him the "EXO of South Chungcheong," after a popular K-pop band. He was elected governor of his home province of South Chungcheong in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.

Source: Bangkok Post February 12, 2017 13:30 UTC