'Isim' Kim Dong-yeon vs 'Yunsim' Kim Eun-hye... The Curtain Rises on the 'Presidential Election Round 2'

'Lee Jae-myung vs Yoon Seok-yeol' Expands into Three-Way Battle
Each Party's Full Support Rallying Their Bases
Early Race a Neck-and-Neck 'Back and Forth'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The curtain has risen on the Gyeonggi Province governor election, which has emerged as the fiercest battleground in June. With the Democratic Party and the People Power Party each selecting Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Eun-hye as their candidates, respectively, full-scale election campaigns have begun, and it is expected to become an all-out war reminiscent of the 'Presidential Election Round 2.'

On the 25th, Kim Dong-yeon, confirmed as the Democratic Party's candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor, is expanding his support base with the party's full backing. On the 28th, Kim Dong-yeon held a hope meeting with Democratic Party lawmakers An Min-seok and Cho Jung-sik, who were candidates in the party primary, and former mayor Yeom Tae-young, declaring a 'One-team.' They promised their support for Kim, saying, "Kim Dong-yeon is a candidate with more competence than anyone else."

Kim Dong-yeon's campaign team has also seen a large influx of the so-called 'Lee Jae-myung faction.' It is known that Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Democratic Party's election committee and a close aide to Senior Advisor Lee Jae-myung, and Lee Seok-hoon, former president of Gyeonggi Province Corporation, are assisting with election tasks. The advisor himself is also expected to launch a support offensive for Kim Dong-yeon. On the 28th, Kim Dong-yeon said on CBS Radio, "Right after the primary results came out, I called (the advisor), and he responded that he would help," adding, "I asked him to help as much as possible within his capacity, and he readily agreed." It is known that the advisor and Kim Dong-yeon maintain a close relationship, frequently communicating since the presidential election.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol is identified as a key supporter of Kim Eun-hye, who was confirmed as the People Power Party's candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor on the 22nd. Having served as spokesperson for the election camp during her candidacy and later as spokesperson for the president-elect, she emphasized 'Yoon's heart' throughout the primary process. In a prior party debate for the Gyeonggi governor primary, she stated, "I will complete a one-team with President-elect Yoon, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister nominee Won Hee-ryong."

In fact, the transition committee is backing the legislative push for the 'First Generation New Town Special Act,' which Kim Eun-hye had proposed. The People Power Party is reportedly planning to initiate legislation alongside President-elect Yoon's inauguration on the 10th of next month. Meanwhile, on the 25th, Kim Eun-hye met with Presidential Transition Committee Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo and personally delivered a proposal containing Gyeonggi Province's current issues, emphasizing the possibility of cooperation with the next government.

The party is also putting full effort into supporting Kim Eun-hye. On the morning of the 28th, People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok personally assisted Kim Eun-hye with her morning greetings at Bucheon Station in Gyeonggi Province.

The Gyeonggi Province election has expanded into a three-way battle between the two major parties, emerging as the fiercest battleground in this local election, partly because it is linked to the next government's national administration. The Democratic Party, having suffered a crushing defeat in the presidential election, is at a disadvantage in the local elections as well, so reclaiming Gyeonggi Province, where Kim Dong-yeon is campaigning vigorously, is crucial. Meanwhile, for the People Power Party and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, cooperation with Gyeonggi Province's administration, home to 14 million people, is considered important.

So far, the race is too close to call, with the two candidates engaged in a 'neck-and-neck' battle. In a public opinion poll conducted by Realmeter on behalf of Asia Economy from the 27th to 28th among 1,010 men and women aged 18 and over residing in Gyeonggi Province (automated response phone, 90% wireless, 10% wired, 95% confidence level, ±3.1 percentage points), Kim Eun-hye received 43.9% support, narrowly leading Kim Dong-yeon, who received 43.3%, by 0.6 percentage points.

On the other hand, in a poll conducted by Daily Research on behalf of Joongbu Ilbo from the 24th to 26th among 800 men and women aged 18 and over residing in the province, the two-candidate hypothetical match-up showed Kim Dong-yeon at 46.5% and Kim Eun-hye at 37.7% (margin of error 95% confidence level ±3.5 percentage points).

However, as the three-way battle between 'Lee Jae-myung vs. Yoon Seok-yeol' unfolds, both sides' support bases appear to be consolidating. In our survey, 90.3% of Democratic Party supporters chose Kim Dong-yeon, while 82.1% of People Power Party supporters selected Kim Eun-hye. Undecided respondents accounted for 5.2% (3% none + 2.2%), with most respondents rallying around the two candidates.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the two candidates are exchanging sharp 'checks' against each other. They have already engaged in heated debates over the First Generation New Town development pledges. On the 26th, Kim Dong-yeon criticized the First Generation New Town pledge, saying, "In the last presidential election, both ruling and opposition candidates unanimously promised to increase floor area ratios and ease regulations for swift problem resolution. Abandoning presidential pledges so easily is a disregard for the people." The next day, spokesperson Lee Kyung pointed out the reversal of position and referred to Kim Eun-hye as 'Yoon Seok-yeol's avatar.'

In response, Kim Eun-hye issued a statement saying, "During his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister, Kim Dong-yeon treated First Generation New Town residents like criminals, imposing property tax bombs, comprehensive real estate tax bombs, and health insurance premium bombs. He has no right to call for reconstruction and redevelopment of the First Generation New Towns," she countered.

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