[Local Election Relay Interview] Yeom Tae-young: "Kim Dong-yeon and Yoo Seung-min Running for Gyeonggi Governor Is 'Nonsense'"

① Yeom Tae-young, Gyeonggi Governor Candidate
"12 Years of Local Administration Experience, Will Walk the Second Lee Jae-myung Path"
Highlights Experience as Suwon Mayor
"Only Multi-term National Assembly Members Receive Spotlight... Concerned About Being Seen as 'Peripheral Magistrate'"
Running on Name Recognition Is 'Arrogance'

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Yeom Tae-young, former mayor of Suwon and a preliminary candidate for the Democratic Party’s Gyeonggi Province governor, said in an interview with Asia Economy on the 29th, "Gyeonggi Province is not a place where someone with only name recognition from central politics can win," adding, "Based on the local administrative experience accumulated over the past 12 years as a Democratic Party mayor, I will follow the path of the second Lee Jae-myung." This was a response to the announcement of candidacies by heavyweight candidates, including multi-term lawmakers, signaling a check on them.

He said, "Yeom Tae-young is someone who can be immediately deployed to handle Gyeonggi Province administration even starting tomorrow," emphasizing to voters, "Candidates who can do well in both Yeouido central politics and field-centered local politics must be clearly distinguished." He explained that only work ability should be considered, and one should not be swayed by factions or name recognition. Below is a Q&A with former Mayor Yeom.

- With lawmakers Cho Jung-sik and Ahn Min-seok, and Kim Dong-yeon, leader of the New Wave, expected to declare their candidacies soon, it is anticipated to be a 'four-way race.' What is your unique strength?

▲ Central politics mainly deals with grand narratives. However, local administration is more about practical changes in the quality of life and living environment of residents. There is no candidate who knows Gyeonggi Province better and can lead it better than me, who has guarded the field of local politics for a long time. (Former Mayor Yeom was elected Suwon mayor consecutively from 2010 and was the first to serve three terms.) Gyeonggi Province is not Yeouido. Although other candidates are all outstanding, central politicians and central bureaucrats do not have merit in field politics. The person with experience in local administration can lead the provincial government best, and that is exactly the path Lee Jae-myung took.

- Some view this as already a 'big match' between Kim Dong-yeon and Yoo Seung-min. Does this situation feel burdensome?

▲ That is completely groundless. It is just a frame someone wants to create. Politics develops when there is policy consistency and predictability. But these people have no ties to Gyeonggi. We should not force a lineup competition just because their names are known. Although they have high name recognition, residents never vote based on that alone. That is arrogance. According to polls, I am considered the most competitive among the three Democratic Party candidates. However, the media prioritizes the careers of multi-term lawmakers and regards my experience as Suwon mayor as that of a 'peripheral magistrate,' which is very concerning. It feels like a tilted playing field. It was the same when I was a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, but I entered as second place to prove them wrong. I believe this time too, results will not be decided by name recognition alone.

- Could you elaborate on your statement about following the 'second Lee Jae-myung’s path'?

▲ Although the era of local decentralization is emphasized, South Korea is still Seoul-centered. Since everything is concentrated in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province faces difficulties such as commuting traffic and proximity between residence and workplace. I will make the province a city where not only housing supply functions but also workplaces, culture, parks, and education can be sufficiently enjoyed within the province. (Former Mayor Yeom’s pledges include Gyeonggi-style sustainable job creation, speeding up GTX lines, realizing a 30-minute commuting traffic policy, resolving housing inequality, and rapid support for reconstruction and redevelopment projects.) Despite the disadvantage of being seen as a minor candidate, I emphasize once again that I have the highest practical competitiveness.

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