[Report] "What Has the Mayor Done?" vs "Isn't He a Traitor?"... Ulsan Voters Split in Fierce Race

A Stronghold of the Labor Movement and Conservative Voting Patterns
Democratic, People Power, Progressive, Innovation, and Independent Camps
Fierce Competition Draws Attention from Undecided Voters

"Our (Hyundai Motor) labor union generally supports the Progressive Party, but I plan to vote for Kim Sangwook of the Democratic Party of Korea, as he seems likely to win." (Male in his 50s, Hyundai Motor Plant, Buk-gu, Ulsan)

"I'm originally a supporter of the People Power Party (the red team). But I don't really like the People Power Party candidate, Kim Dookyum." (Male in his 30s, Sinjeong Market, Nam-gu, Ulsan)

Ulsan is known as a sacred site for the labor movement, yet it has shown a conservative voting pattern in major elections. For the upcoming 9th nationwide local elections on June 3, Ulsan is one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds.

On the 11th, the area in front of Sinjeong Market in Nam-gu, Ulsan, was bustling with citizens. Photo by Jeon Youngju

In particular, the Ulsan mayoral race has turned into a five-way contest featuring prominent candidates. The Democratic Party of Korea has frontlined Kim Sangwook, a former lawmaker from the People Power Party. This is a strategy to win not only traditional Democratic voters but also those with moderate conservative leanings. The People Power Party has nominated incumbent Ulsan Mayor Kim Dookyum, banking on the advantage of holding office. The Progressive Party, which has considerable support in Ulsan, has fielded Kim Jonghoon as its candidate. Former Ulsan Mayor Park Maengwoo has left the People Power Party and is running as an independent. The Cho Kuk Innovation Party has put forward Hwang Myeongpil as its candidate.

Voters in Ulsan are sharply divided along Taehwa River, which runs through the city. The northern Buk-gu and Dong-gu, located above the river, are areas packed with large industrial complexes and are strongholds for progressive parties. South of the river, Nam-gu is the political and economic center of Ulsan, while Jung-gu is the traditional old downtown, both of which have strong conservative tendencies. Notably, Nam-gu is the political home base of Kim Dookyum.

Expectations for 'Pragmatic Administration' from the Democratic Party Candidate

On the 11th, banners of the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea were hung in front of the Hyundai Motor Plant in Buk-gu, Ulsan. Photo by Youngju Jeon

Progressive-leaning voters evaluated the candidates based on pragmatism. On the 11th at Hyundai Motor Cultural Center in Buk-gu, Ulsan, a Hyundai Motor employee in his 50s surnamed Lee commented, "Candidate Kim Dookyum accomplished nothing during his four years as Ulsan mayor."

Choi Kyungok (age 71) said, "I think it's time for a younger person to become Ulsan mayor and transform the city. President Lee Jaemyung is doing a great job, and I expect Democratic Party candidate Kim Sangwook will be similar to him." She added, "It's not about red or blue—what matters is whether someone actually does their job well or not."

Some voters appeared to have shifted away from the conservative base. A woman in her 50s working at a mart in Sinjeong Market, Nam-gu, Ulsan, paused for three seconds when asked who she would vote for in the Ulsan mayoral race, then said, "I've always voted for People Power Party candidates up until now, but this time I'm voting for the Democratic Party of Korea."

Solid 'Concrete Support Base' for the People Power Party

On the 11th, citizens are passing by Sinjeong Market in Nam-gu, Ulsan. Photo by Jeon Youngjoo

Kwon Jusul (age 63), a Jung-gu resident who said he has lived in Ulsan his entire life, met with a reporter in front of Sinjeong Market and said, "Kim Dookyum hasn't really achieved anything special, but I still intend to vote for him. There is a perception that Kim Sangwook is a betrayer. Former Mayor Park Maengwoo would have been better, but the party leadership didn't nominate him."

Shim Kyung-sook (age 74), a resident of Sinjeong-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, said, "Our region—Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam—has always been conservative, and so am I. Kim Dookyum established the Senior Elementary School, and the graduates around me are very pleased with it."

Persistent Swing Voters, a Late-game Variable

There were also undecided voters who had not yet chosen a candidate. Jang (surname), a man in his 50s running a shop in front of the Hyundai Motor Plant, said, "This area (Buk-gu) leans progressive, and I have always voted for the Democratic Party of Korea, but this time I want to watch the campaigns a bit more before making up my mind." A woman in her 20s working at a cafe near Sinjeong Market also said, "I haven't decided yet. There's still time, so I plan to choose carefully."

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