[General Election Battleground]⑧ 'Swing Voter' Dongjak... Lee Sujin vs Na Kyungwon Rematch Interest

"It has been 33 years since I started my business here in Sadang-dong, and this is the worst time yet."

On the 17th at Namseong Sagye Market in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Mr. A (72), who sells dried seafood, said, "I supported the People Power Party but recently switched back to the Democratic Party." He had supported the government and ruling party with hopes that the tough economic situation would improve, but his disappointment has grown even more. He said, "Business has become difficult, and I am thinking about quitting."

This year’s general election in Dongjak-eul, a key battleground in the metropolitan area, is traditionally known as a swing voter district with many undecided voters. Since the supporting parties and politicians are not firmly established, voters’ preferences react sensitively to changes in economic conditions such as real estate. It includes Heukseok-dong, Sangdo 1-dong, and Sadang 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5-dong. It is also a major transportation transfer hub in Seoul, including the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery, Heukseok New Town, Chung-Ang University, Soongsil University, and the areas around Isu Station and Sadang Station.

In Dongjak-eul, voter sentiment differs between Heukseok-dong and Sadang-dong areas. Heukseok-dong, where the new town has been developed, leans toward conservative parties, while Sangdo 1-dong and Sadang-dong areas mainly show strong support for progressive parties. Even within Sadang-dong, there are competitive areas. Mr. B (57), a real estate agent near Heukseok-dong, said, "This area has many large apartment complexes, so it is influenced by real estate prices and redevelopment policies." He explained, "The government recently announced a policy allowing reconstruction to proceed without safety inspections, and expectations for the Yoon Suk-yeol administration are growing in the neighborhood."

The view of Namseong Sagye Market in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu on the 17th. (Photo by Dongwoo Lee)

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Until the 17th general election in 2004, progressive parties had established a foothold in the Dongjak-eul district. However, after former lawmaker Chung Mong-joon was elected in the 18th general election (18th?19th), former lawmaker Na Kyung-won (19th?20th, including the 19th by-election) took over, shifting support toward the conservative camp. It was only in the 21st general election that lawmaker Lee Soo-jin reclaimed Dongjak-gu from the conservative party after 12 years. The Democratic Party strategically nominated Lee Soo-jin, also a former judge, to compete against Na, who was running for a fifth term. At that time, Lee won with 52.16% of the vote, surpassing Na’s 45.04%.

However, there are many assessments that it will not be easy for the Democratic Party to hold onto Dongjak-eul. This is because voter sentiment in the area has rapidly shifted, with a tilt toward conservative parties in the March 2022 20th presidential election and the local elections held three months later for the 8th local government. In the presidential election, 53.23% of voters in Dongjak-eul chose candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, while 43.15% chose Lee Jae-myung. In the local elections, People Power Party candidate Park Il-ha (53.53%) defeated Democratic Party candidate Oh Young-soo (46.46%) by a margin of 7.07 percentage points.

Dongjak-eul is also considered a symbolic area comparable to Jongno, known as the "political number one district." In past elections, political heavyweights from both conservative and progressive camps have passed through Dongjak-eul. Besides former lawmaker Na, former Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young, Kim Han-gil, chairman of the National Integration Committee, former lawmaker Chung Mong-joon, and the late former lawmaker Roh Hoe-chan all ran here.

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In political circles, it is widely expected that former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, chairperson of the People Power Party’s Dongjak-eul district committee, and lawmaker Lee Soo-jin will face off again in the 22nd general election. The rematch between Na, who seeks revenge, and Lee, who is defending her seat, has already sparked a war of pledges.

Ahead of the general election, Lee Soo-jin completed her 2023 report on constituency activities at the end of last year. She announced that her major achievements during the 21st National Assembly include securing the establishment of a public high school in Heukseok New Town by March 2026, obtaining 10 billion KRW in national funds to revitalize the Sadang-Isu commercial district, and supporting the promotion of the Isu-Gwacheon complex tunnel project. Lee expressed her ambition to win this year’s election and make Dongjak-eul a place where young people do not leave. In an interview with Asia Economy, she said, "Nearby universities such as Chung-Ang University, Soongsil University, and Chongshin University lack infrastructure for young people to try startups or ventures," adding, "I will focus on activating industry-academic cooperation such as data centers." Lee also stated, "To secure government support for the Isu-Gwacheon complex tunnel, I have submitted inquiries to the Ministry of Economy and Finance requesting national funding and am cooperating with the Seoul Metropolitan Government." She explained, "Currently, the Ministry of Economy and Finance insists that the project costs be fully covered by city funds due to 'budget shortages,' but Seoul City does not accept this. I am mediating between both sides to ensure the project proceeds without setbacks."

In response, former lawmaker Na Kyung-won has also pledged to nurture future global talents to reclaim the Dongjak-eul district. She proposed expanding the current school district system, which selects 20% of students regardless of school district, to 50%, aiming to prevent children from leaving the area due to school district issues. Na explained that although Dongjak borders the Han River and the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery, it has not fully enjoyed the benefits. She also emphasized improving transportation in Dongjak, a key transportation hub. In an interview with Asia Economy, Na said, "The complex tunnel project stalled due to former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s lack of cooperation, but during my time as floor leader, I finalized the project connecting Dongjak-daero, which adjoins Gyeonggi Province roads, from Gwacheon to Isu Intersection." She added, "Since the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, I have urged Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho to expedite the project, and I feel rewarded to have built consensus on the necessity of the Isu-Gwacheon complex tunnel."

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Su-jin is talking with merchants at the Namseong Four Seasons Market in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu on the 17th. (Photo by Lee Dong-woo)

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Dongjak-eul is one of Seoul’s major traffic congestion areas. Sadang-dong serves as a terminal for routes coming up from the southern Gyeonggi Province. It is also the starting point of the habitual congestion section on Dongjak-daero heading north. This is why residents of Dongjak hope for the early completion of the Isu-Gwacheon complex tunnel. The Isu-Gwacheon complex tunnel is Korea’s first multifunctional complex tunnel, combining a road tunnel and a stormwater drainage tunnel. The project involves constructing a 5.61 km long, four-lane road tunnel and a 3.3 km long stormwater drainage tunnel with a storage capacity of 424,000 cubic meters, from Isu Intersection in Dongjak-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, to Gwacheon-daero in Gwacheon-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province. The total project cost is 580.7 billion KRW, with construction scheduled to start in the first half of 2025, lasting 66 months, and aiming for completion in 2030.

Ahead of the general election, whether the Isu-Gwacheon complex tunnel will begin construction early is a major campaign pledge. Since the project is being promoted as a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) profit-type private investment project, it takes longer than national funding projects. Government support is essential for early construction. A political insider said, "The biggest issue in Dongjak-eul is traffic. Candidates who can solve traffic congestion will gain voter support."

Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won is having a conversation with merchants at Heukseong-dong Market last month. (Photo by Na Kyung-won's Office)

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