Sangil Lee, Yongin Mayoral Candidate, Unveils Preliminary Campaign Brochure: "1,000 Trillion Won Investment to Be Completed with Re-Election"

Sangil Lee Unveils Preliminary Campaign Materials, Stresses 'Continuity of Projects'
Key Pledges Highlighted, Including 'Y-Rail' and 'Semiconductor Road'
Front and Center: 1,000 Trillion Won in Semiconductor Investment, Expansion of Railways and Road Networks
"If I Become Yongin's First Re-Elected Mayor, I Will Repay You Through My Work"
Living-Oriented Pledges Also Featured, Based on 'SA Grade' Performance in Pledge Implementation

Sangil Lee, the People Power Party candidate for Mayor of Yongin Special City, has officially begun his campaign for the 9th Nationwide Local Elections by releasing preliminary promotional materials highlighting the achievements of the 8th popularly elected mayoral term and his vision for the 9th term.

Candidate Lee Sangil of Yongin Special City released preliminary promotional materials. Provided by candidate Lee Sangil.

The core keyword of this promotional material is "continuity of projects." It conveys his determination to become the first mayor in Yongin’s history to be re-elected and complete ongoing large-scale projects.

'Cheonjo Gaebyeok' in Yongin: Emphasizing Uninterrupted Progress

On the cover of his promotional material, Lee has presented the phrase, "A Yongin we can look forward to tomorrow! I will repay you with my work once again." He pledged to carry forward the achievements of the 8th term—such as the establishment of a semiconductor industry base, expansion of transportation networks, and deregulation—steadfastly into the 9th term.

The promotional material particularly emphasizes that approximately 1,000 trillion won in large-scale investments are concentrated in Yongin, including 360 trillion won for the Samsung Electronics Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex, 600 trillion won for the SK hynix Semiconductor Complex, and 20 trillion won for the Samsung Giheung Future Research Campus. Lee has named this phenomenon "Cheonjo Gaebyeok" (meaning "Trillion Revolution").

Candidate Lee Sangil for Yongin Special City released preliminary campaign materials. Provided by candidate Lee Sangil

Lee stated, "The semiconductor complexes require long-term management, from accommodating companies to building supporting cities," adding, "It is crucial to maintain momentum to ensure that any interruption in city administration does not result in harm to citizens."

He highlighted Yongin’s administrative capabilities throughout the process, including engagements with Samsung Electronics officials after his mayoral inauguration in July 2022, the announcement of the Yongin Advanced System National Industrial Complex plan in March 2023, the designation of three locations—Samsung Electronics National Complex, SK hynix General Complex, and Samsung Electronics Future Research Campus (Giheung Campus)—as specialized zones for national advanced strategic industries in July 2023, the central government’s approval of the Yongin National Complex plan in December 2024, and the groundbreaking for SK hynix’s first fab in February 2025.

Experts agree that since semiconductor complexes require long-term management—including groundbreaking, development, tenant move-ins, construction of supporting cities, and talent cultivation—it is important to minimize administrative discontinuity and maintain project momentum.

In the promotional material, Lee criticized proposals to relocate part of Yongin’s semiconductor production lines to other regions, affirming his commitment to safeguarding and further developing semiconductor projects during the 9th term.

He also questioned whether a candidate from the ruling party, who has no connection to Yongin’s semiconductor projects, could lead the future of Yongin’s semiconductor industry, asking, "Can someone unrelated to today’s Yongin semiconductor industry lead its future?"

Candidate Lee Sangil for Mayor of Yongin Special City releases preliminary promotional materials. Materials provided by candidate Lee Sangil

Transportation Network Innovation with 'Y-Rail' and 'Semiconductor Road'

For his transportation pledges, Lee proposed the "Y-Rail" railway network blueprint and the "Semiconductor Road" highway expansion plan.

He emphasized the necessity of establishing a robust transportation network that would allow companies, workers, and citizens to move smoothly, which is fundamental for the proper functioning of the semiconductor complexes and their supporting cities.

In the railway sector, the "Y-Rail" proposal includes the construction of the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway, extension of the Gyeonggang Line or the establishment of the Jungbu Metropolitan Express Railway (JTX), the Dongtan–Yongin–Bubal Southern Gyeonggi East-West Line, the Dongbaek–Shinbong Line, the Yongin Line extension to Gwanggyo, the Eonnam–Dongcheon Line, and the extension of the Bundang Line from Giheung Station to Osan University Station. This plan aims to connect Suji, Giheung, and Cheoin districts and link Yongin to Seoul, Seongnam, Suwon, Hwaseong, Cheongju Airport, and other metropolitan areas.

For roads, he highlighted the "Semiconductor Road," which includes the establishment of a new semiconductor expressway connecting Hwaseong, Yongin Cheoin-gu, and Anseong; support for the construction of the underground Gyeongbu Expressway between Giheung and Yangjae; the creation of Dongbaek IC (tentative name) on the Yeongdong Expressway and Dongyongin IC (tentative name) on the Sejong-Pocheon Expressway; and the expansion of National Route 45.

Lee believes that expanding these road networks is directly linked to revitalizing the semiconductor complexes, streamlining logistics, and improving commuting and living conditions for talent.

Other highlights in his promotional material include the complete removal of the Songtan Water Source Protection Zone, deregulation of overlapping waterfront zones in Pogok and Mohyeon-eup, resolution of the old Police University site issue, confirmation of the Dongbaek IC on the Yeongdong Expressway, reinvestment of profits from the Yongin Platform City development in Yongin, and the establishment of the first specialized semiconductor high school in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Lee summarized these as "change and achievement," focusing on pledges to continue the deregulatory, infrastructure-building momentum from the 8th term into the 9th term.

Draft promotional material for candidate Lee Sangil, mayoral candidate for Yongin Special City. Provided by candidate Lee Sangil.

Living-Oriented Pledges Based on 'SA Grade' Performance in Pledge Implementation

Lee highlighted that he received the highest "SA" rating from the Korea Manifesto Action Headquarters and placed the 95% pledge implementation rate at the forefront of his campaign. He underscored that, for the first time in the city’s history, the mayor received the top "SA" grade in pledge implementation assessment, with 185 out of 212 pledges fulfilled and an overall pledge implementation rate of 95%, including ongoing projects, as featured in his promotional material.

He also presented living-oriented pledges such as creating a semiconductor-specialized new city in Idong-eup, building a lakeside park around Idong Reservoir, developing a multipurpose cultural and sports facility on the former Police University site, the "Green Yongin" carbon neutrality project, support for farmers’ livelihoods, support for small business owners and self-employed persons, expansion of youth housing and jobs, elderly care, guaranteeing mobility rights for people with disabilities, making Yongin a women-friendly city, and expanding sports facilities.

Lee announced his plan to develop a high-tech new city with 20,000 households in Idong-eup, Cheoin-gu, and to establish a cultural and performing arts center, a municipal art museum, and sports and leisure facilities within the area.

He appealed for support, stating, "We must put an end to the policy discontinuities that occur every four years when the mayor changes," and added, "Those who have achieved today’s success in the Yongin semiconductor industry can lead Yongin’s future."

Candidate Sangil Lee of Yongin Special City Releases Preliminary Promotional Materials. Provided by Candidate Sangil Lee.

Candidate Sangil Lee was born in Hampyeong, Jeollanam-do, graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Trade, earned a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Business at Yonsei University, and completed doctoral coursework in Public Administration at Yonsei University Graduate School. He has served as the Washington correspondent, Political Affairs Editor, and Editorial Writer for JoongAng Ilbo, was a member of the 19th National Assembly, a distinguished professor at Dankook University, and has led Yongin’s city administration as Mayor of Yongin Special City for the past four years.

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