[Hot Interview] Gong Young-woon to Lee Jun-seok Before Showdown: "Skills Over Words"

Former Hyundai Motor President... Democratic Party Strategic Nominee for Hwaseong-si Eul
"Here to Work... Leading Dongtan's Development with Practical Experience"
People Power's Han Jeong-min, Reform New Party's Lee Jun-seok, and Others in 'Three-Way Race'

The lineup for the fiercely contested 'Gyeonggi Hwaseong-si Eul' district has been finalized. Gong Young-woon, former president of Hyundai Motor Company, who received a strategic nomination from the Democratic Party, pledged to create 'Dongtan beyond Dongtan' with his experience in new industries such as future cars, semiconductors, and batteries, built while leading strategies in the finished car industry. Ahead of the showdown with Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, he expressed confidence, saying, "I look forward to a great competition," and added, "I will show my skills rather than words."

On the 6th, in a phone interview with Asia Economy, candidate Gong said, "The Hwaseong area is the heart of the automobile industry and the engine of the nation's future industries," adding, "Based on the future car industry, I will expand the practical experience of promoting cooperation in fields such as semiconductors and batteries into national policy in Dongtan."

Former Hyundai Motor Company President Gong Yeong-un, who was strategically nominated as the Democratic Party candidate for Hwaseong-si Eul, Gyeonggi Province, is greeting people on the streets of the Dongtan area for the first time on the 5th. Candidate Gong emphasized regarding the three-way race formed with Han Jeong-min, the People Power Party candidate and former Samsung Electronics researcher, and Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform New Party, "I will compete with skills rather than words."
[Photo by Gong Yeong-un]

When asked, "What do you think is the reason the party strategically nominated you for Gyeonggi Hwaseong-si Eul?" Gong explained, "I entrusted the choice of the electoral district to the party and emphasized justification above all else," and added, "It was because I wanted to fight in an area with which I have a deep connection, especially where I can be of help." He is familiar with the Hwaseong area, having frequently traveled between Hyundai Motor’s Namyang Research Center and Kia Motors’ Hwaseong plant during his tenure as head of Hyundai’s strategic planning. Gong emphasized, "I am a key figure who has been part of the history of the automobile industry's development in Hwaseong for 18 years," and said, "It is time to repay the citizens of Hwaseong who helped achieve innovation with 13,000 employees at Hyundai Motor Namyang Research Center and 14,000 at Kia Motors Hwaseong plant."

When asked if his competitiveness is limited to the automobile industry, he shared an anecdote about discussing new industry directions with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong at the Namyang Research Center during his tenure, saying, "While promoting strategies related to the future car industry, I have hands-on experience in new industries that will be the future food sources of our country, such as semiconductors and batteries." He emphasized, "The core of autonomous driving technology is semiconductors, and next-generation batteries are also an important area in future cars," and added, "While some emphasize only semiconductors, I have practical experience to create a 'convergence cluster' combining future cars, semiconductors, and batteries in the Hwaseong area."

Dongtan emerging as a battleground... 'Winning with skills rather than words'

Former Hyundai Motor Company President Gong Young-woon, the 9th talent recruit of the Democratic Party of Korea, is being interviewed on the 31st at Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Candidate Gong was known as a 'strategic planner' during his Hyundai days and was praised for his exceptional drive. Perhaps for this reason, just four days after his nomination, he completed his preliminary candidate registration the day before and swiftly moved with his family to the Dongtan area. Taking advantage of the momentum, he even made his first 'street greeting,' saying, "I am grateful that many residents recognized me first," and added, "I am now ready to live as a Hwaseong citizen in my second hometown, Dongtan."

The 'Hwaseong-si Eul' district had become a stronghold of the Democratic Party with Lee Won-wook of the Reform New Party serving three terms, but the seat became vacant after he moved to the newly divided 'Hwaseong-si Jeong.' The People Power Party nominated Han Jeong-min, a former researcher from Samsung Electronics DS Division’s Memory Business Unit, to defend the 'semiconductor belt.' With Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, unexpectedly declaring his candidacy, the district has become a fiercely contested battleground with an unpredictable outcome.

Regarding the three-way race, candidate Gong said, "Unlike those who attract attention with words, I will compete with experience gained from leading industrial development in the region," and asserted, "I came here to work. Skills over words." Especially about leader Lee Jun-seok, he said, "There is not enough time to explain and realize my vision for Dongtan, so I have no time to talk about other candidates," but emphasized, "I will show my skills."

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