[Local Election Interview] Yang Hyangja: "I Will Create a Come-From-Behind Victory... See It Through Under the People Power Party Banner"

Interview with Yang Hyangja, People Power Party Candidate for Gyeonggi Governor

Hyangja Yang, a candidate for the People Power Party's Gyeonggi Province governor primary, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the National Assembly on April 27, 2026. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

"I will see this through under the name of the People Power Party. Together with our party's candidates in Gyeonggi Province, we will create a 'come-from-behind victory drama.'

On May 6, Yang Hyangja, candidate for governor of Gyeonggi Province from the People Power Party, stated in an interview with The Asia Business Daily, "Gyeonggi Province must become the unshakable heart of Korea, even amid the global semiconductor cluster power struggle, and a 'miniature Taiwan.' The next four years will determine the fate of Gyeonggi Province."

Yang, who has thrown her hat in the ring to become the head of Gyeonggi Province—the largest metropolitan government in Korea with a population of over 13 million—has emerged as her party's candidate after passing the primary. This is a significant turning point in her political career. For a politician, becoming known throughout Gyeonggi Province is a major asset. While some predict it will not be easy for the People Power Party to win the gubernatorial race, the momentum could shift once the main election begins.

Yang began her career in 1985 as a semiconductor research assistant at Samsung Electronics' Giheung plant in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, eventually rising to become the first female executive (Managing Director) from a commercial high school background. After entering politics in 2016, she served as a member of the 21st National Assembly and later joined the People Power Party, where she was elected as a member of the party's top leadership.

Regarding the election outlook, Yang said, "Choo Mi-ae, candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, has the advantages of high name recognition and strong ruling party approval ratings. However, this can be overcome by framing the contest as a battle between a fighter (Choo) and a worker (Yang). In Gyeonggi Province, it is difficult to make proper decisions without a deep understanding of advanced industries."

In this election, Yang has presented a vision to make Gyeonggi one of the world's top three advanced industrial cities, alongside Silicon Valley and Shenzhen. To achieve this, she plans to establish semiconductor-based advanced industry clusters and specialized high schools in all 31 cities and counties of the province, and to promote the 'G(yeonggi)-Genesis Mission' as well as build industry-academia-research-resident consultative bodies.

She remarked, "Who could have predicted that Samsung Electronics' semiconductors would dominate the world? We must take note of how Taiwan provides massive support to foster global companies like TSMC. Gyeonggi's semiconductor industry should follow suit."

As the first initiative to be implemented immediately upon election, Yang cited the timely operation of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster. "I will establish a science and technology vice governor reporting directly to the governor, and create an administrative support organization for semiconductors to reduce approval and permit processing times by more than half," she said. "Regarding water and power conflicts, I will push for the establishment of a new mutual cooperation fund."

Regarding the possibility of uniting candidacies with Cho Eungcheon of the Reform New Party, Yang said, "Cho and I were aligned in opposing the complete removal of investigative powers from prosecutors, and I believe political forces seeking to check the government's and ruling party's dominance must unite. However, I am confident that our party can win the Gyeonggi election on its own. We will not engage in artificial alliances or seat-sharing deals."

The following is a Q&A with candidate Yang.

▲You have chosen to run in Gyeonggi Province, an unfavorable district, in the first nationwide election since the launch of the Lee Jaemyung administration.

=Difficult positions have always been my calling. Gyeonggi Province is, in many ways, the story of my own life. As I often mention, I moved to Giheung, Yongin, at age 18 before graduating high school and have been a Gyeonggi resident for 41 years. I witnessed Gyeonggi transform from a barren plain into a global advanced industrial city over the past four decades. My journey—from joining Samsung as a high school graduate to becoming a National Assembly member and a top official in the People Power Party—mirrors Gyeonggi's growth trajectory. Cho Eungcheon of the Reform New Party compared Gyeonggi to 'egg whites,' but in fact, egg whites are healthier. Just as I overcame adversity and grew, Gyeonggi too will grow with confidence.

▲What is your vision for Gyeonggi Province?

=The next four years will bring more changes to the industrial landscape than the 70 years since liberation. Gyeonggi now needs an advanced industry vision more than ever. I pledge that, if elected, I will transform Gyeonggi into one of the world's top three advanced industrial cities, alongside Silicon Valley in the U.S. and Shenzhen in China. I am not motivated by the electoral landscape, but by my vocation and my life's work—what I must accomplish before I die. I am not afraid. The more difficult the challenge, the greater my energy. It is people like me who turn the impossible into possible. Who could have imagined that Samsung's semiconductors would gain global dominance? I believe it was possible because people like myself contributed to 30 years of Samsung's history. The history of Korea must also be built around Gyeonggi Province, and right now, Gyeonggi needs a governor like Yang Hyangja.

▲Your assessment of Choo Mi-ae, candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea?

=Choo Mi-ae has no personal ties to the province. I doubt she even took the bus once during her two years in Hanam. She only arrived a month ago to run for National Assembly and knows very little about Gyeonggi. Her two years in Hanam were merely a strategic move to prepare for this gubernatorial run. As chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, she focused on filming short-form content and raising her profile, but did not express intentions to run for governor. She paid no attention to her Hanam constituency. Such a person cannot properly lead Gyeonggi for four years.

▲What are Choo's strengths?

=Choo's strength may be her name recognition, but data analysis shows her unfavorability rating is much higher than mine. In contrast, while I have significant name recognition, my unfavorability rating is low. When I meet residents, all 10 out of 10 say, "You can defeat Choo, it's possible because it's Choo Mi-ae, please win as the worker against the fighter." There are high expectations that this election will be an opportunity to renew the conservative party. I have chaired advanced industry and semiconductor committees for both major parties, and I am seen as someone who rises above factionalism, ideology, and self-interest. The collective intelligence of Gyeonggi residents is not swayed by party lines. Choo's only advantage is the high approval rating of her party and the fact that the current president is from the Democratic Party. However, there are no successful examples of candidates relying solely on the president's name. One must present their own vision, philosophy, and goals—those who lean entirely on others are merely ideological puppets.

▲Unlike Silicon Valley and Shenzhen, Korea's semiconductor ecosystem is said to be dominated by a few major corporations.

=Look at TSMC in Taiwan. The core difference is that the Taiwanese government provides massive support to an industrial ecosystem built around global companies. Gyeonggi must do the same. To foster an ecosystem where companies like Samsung and SK hynix continue to emerge, a deep understanding of the industry is essential. To this end, I will implement the 'G(yeonggi)-Genesis Mission.' A consultative body involving industry, academia, research, and the private sector is needed, and I plan to launch this immediately. Without an understanding of advanced industries, one cannot make the right decisions. Governor Dongyeon Kim also needed support and suggestions on many occasions, especially in attracting foreign investment. Gyeonggi must become both a 'miniature Taiwan' and the heart of Korea. The province must play the role of a stable heart amid the global power struggle, and the next four years will be decisive for its future.

▲Opinion polls show a significant gap. Do you have a strategy to overcome this?

=The 600 People Power Party candidates want to create a dramatic comeback victory. Those who felt they had nowhere to turn have found hope in my candidacy. Amid the race against Choo Mi-ae, I will build semiconductor-based advanced industrial clusters throughout all 31 cities and counties of Gyeonggi. We need to evenly distribute companies in materials, components, biotech, health, and robotics across the province. For this, talented individuals are essential. I will attract specialized high schools in semiconductors, SK hynix, robotics, and artificial intelligence by region and city/county to foster local talent. I will campaign with this vision, in partnership with candidates from all 31 cities and counties.

▲Some say the current party leadership is holding you back.

=We should not keep blaming others for our party's low approval ratings. As a member of the leadership, I bear great responsibility as well. Our failure to overcome the Democratic Party's "party of insurrection" framing is reflected in public opinion. In Gyeonggi, I will break free from that frame and call for party reform. As a prepared candidate, I am confident in winning Gyeonggi, and this result will serve as a catalyst for renewing our party. We will move from the 'river of martial law and impeachment' to the sea of public sentiment. I will form a broad-based campaign committee that brings together capable and visionary individuals and pursue bold opposition alliances.

▲What is your view on merging candidacies with Cho Eungcheon?

=Cho and I were aligned in opposing the "complete deprivation of prosecutorial investigative rights." A united conservative opposition is natural, and I will also pursue bold alliances among opposition parties. Political forces that seek to check the dominance of the government and ruling party should join forces. However, I will see this election through under the People Power Party banner. We are confident in winning the Gyeonggi election on our own. I am firmly against artificial alliances or seat-sharing deals and will decisively reject them.

▲If elected governor, what is the first issue you would address?

=I will do everything possible to ensure the timely operation of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster. Currently, a web of regulations—including the total factory quota—impedes progress and makes administrative procedures slower than in Taiwan. Water and power supply issues are also hampered by political conflict. Drawing on the experience that allowed me to persuade the Democratic Party to pass relevant legislation, I will make Gyeonggi the heart of Korea's semiconductor industry. I will establish a science and technology vice governor under the governor, create a dedicated administrative support organization for semiconductors, and cut permit and infrastructure processing times by more than half. I am more familiar than anyone with cluster development in places like Austin and Xi’an, so I can provide strong leadership. Water and power issues can be led by Samsung or SK hynix, but I will immediately create a 'mutual cooperation fund' to share tax revenue and distribute the benefits of advanced industries.

▲How would you promote development in western and northern areas of Gyeonggi, which are less associated with the semiconductor industry?

=Currently, industry is concentrated in the south and regulation in the north. We need to redraw the industrial map of Gyeonggi. The south will focus on technology development, the midwest on advancing materials and components, and the north on serving as a hub for demonstration projects in new industries. In particular, I will foster defense, biotech, energy, and content industries by leveraging the northern Peace Economic Zone and Opportunity Development Zone. Attracting companies is my greatest strength. In places like Yeoju in the east, I will promote development by drawing on the legacy of King Sejong's scientific vision.

▲What is your solution to the traffic congestion between Gyeonggi and Seoul?

=The root cause is that jobs are in Seoul while housing is in Gyeonggi. We must create communities in Gyeonggi where jobs, housing, healthcare, education, and culture coexist. In the short term, expanding the metropolitan transportation network is crucial. I will strictly manage the timely opening of GTX A, B, and C lines. I will also build multi-layered transportation networks connecting homes and stations, exclusive lanes, and bus rapid transit (BRT) systems, and expand two-story electric buses and demand-responsive autonomous shuttles. For transportation welfare, I will introduce greater early-morning fare discounts and implement blockchain-based transportation subsidies for seniors and minors. As an AI expert, I will integrate the transportation systems of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon into a unified platform.

▲Do you have a solution for the housing problem in Gyeonggi?

=Gyeonggi must thoroughly manage approval and safety issues related to reconstruction and redevelopment. I pledge to provide 24-hour counseling for victims of rental fraud. By benchmarking the Taiwanese model, I will supply one million housing units within industrial clusters and establish a '15-minute live-work-play' structure where all daily needs can be met within 15 minutes of work.

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