[Report] "Mayor? What's the point of electing one if they'll just disrupt the whole neighborhood?"... Between Distrust and Resignation

Accumulated Inconvenience Over Tram Construction and Reduced Roads
Springtime Scenery Marred by "Beautiful View"… Cherry Blossom Tree Logging Controversy
Chungcheong, the Key Swing Region: Lee Jangwoo vs. Heo Taejeong Face-off
“Whoever We E

"Election? Is that even happening? I didn't even know about it. Oh, come on. Even if we elect a new mayor, what does it matter? On every possible day, they just dig up the roads, cut down all the trees, and tear up the whole neighborhood, stirring everything up, don't they?"

On the 5th, Children's Day, families and citizens enjoyed the holiday around Hanbit Tower, which stands 93 meters tall, in Expo Park, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. Photo by Moon Hyewon

On May 5, Children's Day, Mr. A, an elderly man in his 80s who visited the banks of the Gapcheon River in Daejeon with his family, shared these thoughts when asked about the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3. Mr. A, who has lived in Daejeon for over 60 years since his youth, said, "They said they would build Subway Line 2, but that talk disappeared. Now they're saying something about building a tram, so they've narrowed roads here and there, and it's always causing traffic jams."

Mr. A's wife, Mrs. B, added, "In spring, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and the scenery here was beautiful, but I heard they’re removing all the cherry trees for the tram construction. Once you take out a cherry tree, even if you plant it again, it doesn’t grow back well. Who made this decision, and why?"

Daejeon is not only a bellwether region for the Chungcheong area but also a key swing region that reflects public sentiment nationwide. Throughout history, with two presidential impeachments, changes of government, consecutive general elections, snap presidential elections, and local elections, voter sentiment has shifted rapidly depending on political issues, leading to repeated close contests between progressive and conservative camps. Park, a taxi driver in his 60s whom we met at Daejeon Station, chuckled and said, "You never really know what the people of Chungcheong are thinking until the results are in."

In this Daejeon mayoral election, Lee Jangwoo of the People Power Party, the incumbent mayor, is facing off against Heo Taejeong, the former mayor from the Democratic Party. Mayor Lee argues for a second term on the grounds of maintaining continuity in city administration, leveraging his incumbent advantage and strong local organizational support. On the other hand, former Mayor Heo is emphasizing his proven administrative capabilities and communication with citizens, demonstrated through his tenure as Yuseong-gu district chief and as Daejeon mayor, aiming to reclaim the city government.

On the 4th, a signboard informing citizens of inconvenience due to the installation of a tram was set up around Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. Photo by Moon Hyewon

On the 4th, a banner notifying the trimming of royal cherry blossom trees for the installation of a tram was hung in the Yuseong District area of Daejeon. Photo by Moon Hyewon

On the 4th, banners informing citizens about lane reduction for the installation of a tram were seen hung around Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. Daejeon=Photo by Moon Hyewon

Although Daejeon citizens are generally known for not openly displaying their political leanings, evidence of accumulated dissatisfaction and distrust toward both former and current mayors could be seen throughout the city. Mr. Kang, a citizen in his 60s who runs a publishing business, said, "Among all those who have served as mayor of Daejeon so far, none have really been worthy of praise," adding, "Because Daejeon citizens have faced so much disappointment, they won't make their choice easily." Mr. Kang, who said he voted for Democratic Party candidate Lee Jaemyung in last year’s presidential election, also remarked, "Now that it's the Lee Jaemyung presidency, I wonder if I should just vote for the Democratic Party candidate, but I can't fully trust Heo Taejeong, so I'm really not sure."

Mr. Kim, an office worker in his 40s living in Wolpyeong-dong, Seo-gu, commented, "Now that construction has already started (on the tram), there’s probably no politician who can realistically call for it to be stopped." He continued, "Still, I hope that whoever is elected mayor will at least be someone who listens well to the concerns and complaints of local residents, and who has the willingness and ability to reflect and coordinate those issues."

The expectations of young voters for this election tended to be more concrete and pragmatic. A young entrepreneur in his 20s, whom we met at a café in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, said, "I hope someone with real administrative expertise who can provide plenty of opportunities and practical support for young people like me moving to Daejeon becomes mayor." He graduated from a university beauty program and immediately started his own business. Having recently opened a store and registered his residency in Daejeon, which is geographically close to his family home in Seoul and offers comparatively lower housing and shop rental prices, he said, "Rather than candidates’ political leanings, I look at how much their policy pledges will directly affect my life. My friends will also make their decisions based on whether Daejeon City will roll out useful policies for young entrepreneurs like us." While Daejeon's overall population has stagnated, there is a slight increase in the influx of people in their 20s and 30s.

On the 4th, customers lined up waiting to enter Seongsimdang Cake Boutique (Main Store) in Jung-gu, Daejeon. Photo by Moon Hyewon

On the 4th, the Seongsimdang bread storage facility was installed in the Jungang-ro Underground Shopping Center in Jung-gu, Daejeon. Photo by Moon Hyewon

Local residents also voiced underlying dissatisfaction about the relationship between the local bakery Seongsimdang, which has gained national fame through "bakery pilgrimages," and Daejeon City. Ms. Lee, in her 50s, who runs a clothing store in the Jungang-ro Underground Shopping Center, said, "It's true that with four Seongsimdang bread storage facilities opening in the underground shopping center, foot traffic has increased." However, she added, "The underground shopping center is now used mainly as a passageway to Seongsimdang, so except for the shops near Exit 2 where the entrance to Seongsimdang is, the rest of the area is still quiet, and I'm not sure there’s any real boost in sales. I also worry that the city might quietly raise rents for shop owners again."

The Daejeon City Election Commission and Seongsimdang collaborated to launch "Our Neighborhood Election Bread" on the 7th. Photo by Daejeon City Election Commission

Meanwhile, on May 7, Seongsimdang collaborated with the Daejeon City Election Commission to launch "Election Bread," aiming to promote the election. Through this Election Bread, it is hoped that voters across the country will be reminded of the election date and encouraged to vote. However, since Seongsimdang’s main customer base consists of out-of-towners and tourists rather than local residents, it remains to be seen whether this will actually translate into higher voter turnout among Daejeon residents.

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