Will Lee Jae-myung Survive... Incheon Gyeyang-eul Voter Turnout Exceeds 50%

25-Year Local Yoon Hyung-sun Pursuit

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for the Incheon Gyeyang by-election, is greeting supporters after announcing the "Subway Line 9 Gyeyang Extension Pledge" near the Gimpo Urban Railway Depot in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, on the 29th of last month. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Along with the June 1 local elections, by-elections are also being held in a total of seven National Assembly constituencies. The area drawing the most attention is Incheon Gyeyang-eul, where Lee Jae-myung, the overall election committee chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, is running.

Incheon Gyeyang-eul was originally considered favorable to Lee, as it was the constituency where Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, served five terms. However, emphasizing his image as a 'local native' who has lived in the area for 25 years, Lee faced a fierce late-stage challenge from Yoon Hyung-sun, the People Power Party candidate.

Facing criticism of a 'baseless candidacy,' Lee pledged to relocate Gimpo Airport, a move that was later evaluated as a 'self-inflicted blow' negatively affecting other regional elections. The People Power Party launched strong criticism, saying, "The governor of Gyeonggi Province who is fleeing is even trying to run away with Gimpo Airport."

Lee is aiming for a political comeback through this local election. However, even if he wins, a narrow margin or a possible loss would inevitably cause damage. A complete overhaul of the Democratic Party leadership, which had put Lee at the forefront, is also expected.

Meanwhile, Incheon Gyeyang-eul is recording a high voter turnout. As of 4 p.m. on the day, the voter turnout for the National Assembly by-elections was tallied at 49.6%, with Incheon Gyeyang-eul recording 54.1%.

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