[Current Affairs Show] Yang Hyangja: "Choo Mi-ae, Who Pushes Bills Through Hastily, Is Very Dangerous"

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily's "Sosongseop's Current Affairs Show" (Mon-Fri, 4-5 PM)

■ Host: Political Specialist Sosong Seop ■ Director: Producer Lee Miri

■ Guest: Yang Hyangja, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party (April 23)

※ When quoting content from this article, please be sure to cite "Sosongseop's Current Affairs Show."

Sosong Seop: Hello, everyone. Welcome to Sosongseop's Current Affairs Show. The People Power Party’s primary race for Gyeonggi Province Governor has now been confirmed with three candidates: Yang Hyangja, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party; former announcer Lee Seongbae; and former lawmaker Ham Jingyu. It’s a three-way contest.We now have Yang Hyangja, Supreme Council Member, on the line. Ms. Yang, hello?

Yang Hyangja: Yes, hello.

Sosong Seop: With this three-way primary, are you confident you will win?

Yang Hyangja: Yes, I am confident.

Sosong Seop: What is the basis for that confidence?

Yang Hyangja: In a one-on-one match-up with candidate Chu Mi-ae, I believe I am the most suitable as a "worker" rather than a "fighter." The positioning is clear, and I have the stronger justification, so I am confident of winning.

Sosong Seop: Why do you believe you are the right person for the Gyeonggi governor position?

Yang Hyangja, a Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, had a phone interview on the 23rd with The Asia Business Daily's "Sosongseop's Current Affairs Show." Photo by Huh Younghan

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Yang Hyangja: 84.6% of the nation’s added value in advanced industries comes from semiconductors in Gyeonggi Province. With 76% of sales in the semiconductor sector coming from Gyeonggi, it would be difficult to govern the province without understanding the semiconductor industry. That’s why I believe the Gyeonggi governor election needs someone who can perfectly establish Gyeonggi as the heart of advanced industries. Furthermore, the people of Gyeonggi are aware that we cannot turn the next four years of provincial administration into a political battlefield. In this context, I see a clear contest between a fighter and a worker, a legal technician and an industrial expert, the past and the future. I believe I have a strong chance if I present this clear distinction.

Furthermore, all provincial administration will be transformed by advanced industries such as AI semiconductors, and I am the one who can most efficiently and properly lead this change. Also, this Gyeonggi election is particularly noteworthy because, for the first time in 32 years, a woman could become the head of a metropolitan government in Gyeonggi Province. The contest between candidate Chu Mi-ae and myself is a historic one. In this context, voters will consider who can truly focus on provincial administration, who can truly elevate Gyeonggi to a world-class city, who can create more jobs, and who can solve the region’s traffic nightmare. When looking at these factors, I believe I, Yang Hyangja, will stand out as the answer.

Sosong Seop: Reactions to Leader Jang Donghyuk’s campaign support visits seem to vary by region, and in Gyeonggi, I see that some National Assembly members are forming separate regional campaign committees. What are your thoughts on Leader Jang Donghyuk’s support rallies?

Yang Hyangja: After all, isn’t the party leader elected by the party members, who are the true owners of the party? I find it odd when people talk about refusing the support rallies of the party leader. As for Gyeonggi’s incumbent lawmakers holding a press conference to propose forming the campaign committee first, I have also made that suggestion many times. If you wait too long, the election itself becomes difficult, so I have said since three months ago that we must move quickly. As soon as the candidate is selected, the schedule and policy announcements must proceed swiftly and seamlessly, so it is right to get started. I don’t think this should be seen as distancing from the party leadership, and I want to correct that perception. I pushed for this strongly.

After completing his visit to the United States, Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party (second from the right), is entering to attend the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in the early morning of the 20th. From the right are Kim Minsu, Supreme Council member; Leader Jang; Woo Jaejun, Youth Supreme Council member; and Yang Hyangja, Supreme Council member. Photo by Yonhap News

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Sosong Seop: Some say Gyeonggi Province is already a “tilted playing field” for the People Power Party, and today’s public opinion poll shows the party’s support at 15%. Do you have a secret strategy to reverse this situation?

Yang Hyangja: Only Yang Hyangja can defeat Chu Mi-ae. Does a local government focused on getting things done need a fighter or a worker? The people of Gyeonggi no longer want political fights; they want real results. The core of Gyeonggi is clear-semiconductors, AI, advanced industries, key industrial infrastructure like transportation, power, and water, and future growth sectors. The people know who has truly worked on these issues on the ground for more than 30 years, even after entering politics, advocating for advanced semiconductor industries, and delivering results. I have consistently presented a blueprint to make Gyeonggi the heart of the world’s advanced industries, and I have a roadmap for execution. If I become the candidate, I am confident I can quickly narrow the gap and completely change the dynamics.

Sosong Seop: Why do you characterize candidate Chu Mi-ae as a "fighter"?

Yang Hyangja: After being elected as a National Assembly member in Hanam, she did not focus on developing Hanam, but, as Judiciary Committee Chair, she used her position to push through all bills and claimed to have completed prosecution reform. I believe this is dangerous. Regarding the so-called “Complete Stripping of Investigative Powers” bill, I was one who argued it should undergo proper review for 90 days, and seeing how bills were handled makes me concerned that, without knowledge of Gyeonggi administration, she would simply bang the gavel through everything. I believe Gyeonggi residents may share this fear. Gyeonggi residents do not want to see any more political fighting. Having worked and grown in Gyeonggi for 40 years, I hope to share my experience of growth and success with the next generation and secure their future. I am determined to make Gyeonggi a world-class city.

Sosong Seop: There are rumors that former lawmaker Cho Eungcheon may run for Gyeonggi governor with the Reform Party. What are your thoughts on the possibility of alliances?

Yang Hyangja: At this stage, I think it is premature to talk about alliances. Once the general election campaign gets underway, there will be clear demands and hopes among conservative voters about what it will take to win. At that point, I will listen closely to the sentiment of the voters and make decisions about unification or alliances based on the voters’ wishes and the potential for victory, not just what a few politicians decide at the table. I will discuss thoroughly with our campaign committee and make the most responsible decision.

Sosong Seop: While now may not be the time to discuss this, you are saying that later on, you may leave the door open to such possibilities.

Yang Hyangja: Yes, that’s right.

Democratic Party leader Chung Cheong-rae is seen putting an election jumper on candidate Chu Mi-ae at a welcoming ceremony for Chu Mi-ae, the gubernatorial candidate of Gyeonggi Province, held before the Executive Committee meeting on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News

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Sosong Seop: What are the strengths and weaknesses of Democratic Party candidate Chu Mi-ae?

Yang Hyangja: Candidate Chu Mi-ae’s strength is also her clear limitation-she has the ability to rally her hardcore supporters, and she is a classic fighter-politician. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, the role of Gyeonggi governor is not one that can be fulfilled by political infighting. Especially in Gyeonggi, where advanced industry is so important, someone with no knowledge of these fields cannot effectively lead the province. In Hanam, she used her two years as a stepping stone to run for governor, and many residents are convinced she would use four years as governor as another stepping stone toward a presidential run.

But Gyeonggi is Korea’s largest metropolitan economic zone, the center of semiconductors and advanced industries, and requires understanding and leadership over the entire industrial ecosystem-power, water, transportation, licensing, and talent development. As we saw in the Democratic Party primary, candidate Chu is unprepared and, in fact, will remain unprepared, because she does not understand advanced industries. That is not simply negative campaigning-it is a fundamental issue. What Gyeonggi needs now is not a legal technician, but an expert in advanced industries. I believe the voters will clearly make this distinction.

I will make sure that young people who are eager to act will never be held back by lack of money. After ten years of studying AI and big data, I have earned my Ph.D. I will build a comprehensive platform for the entire province to solve issues like traffic congestion, job matching, and life-cycle childcare support. These are areas where I excel. I had hoped to implement these at the national level, but now I am excited to realize them in Gyeonggi Province.Gyeonggi will play the role of the heart that powers all of Korea, with that energy flowing out to every region.

※Click the video to watch the full interview.

Sosong Seop: Can you introduce some of your key campaign pledges?

Yang Hyangja: Having watched Gyeonggi Province for over 40 years, I’ve seen some cities decline and others grow. Ultimately, it comes down to advanced and future industries. Through the revival of advanced industries, my goal is to raise the per capita GRDP (Gross Domestic Product) of Gyeonggi residents, currently at about 44 million won, to 100 million won. I also aim to achieve similar GRDP levels across all 31 cities and counties, eliminating the gap between the north and south of the province.

Another goal is to create more than 100,000 jobs with annual salaries of 100 million won or more. I do not want Gyeonggi to be just an administrative district but the engine of Korea’s economic growth. The most important thing is to focus on strategic industries: semiconductors, AI, next-generation vehicles, and advanced materials. This will elevate Gyeonggi’s standing by ten steps or more.

Let me also emphasize that, if elected, I will move straight to the field. I plan to meet immediately with Samsung Electronics CEO Jeon Yonghyun and SK hynix CEO Kwak Nojeong. With Samsung, I will discuss early securing of 2nm foundry demand and client acquisition strategies. With SK hynix, I will discuss HBM4 mass production and the power infrastructure issues at the Yongin cluster. I will not be a governor who pressures companies, but one who enables them to invest more and play a bigger role in Korea. I believe even President Lee Jae-myung would choose Yang Hyangja over Chu Mi-ae if he had to pick a governor.

Sosong Seop: We’ve been speaking with Yang Hyangja, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, who has pledged to be the “semiconductor governor,” “AI governor,” and to create 100,000 jobs. Thank you, Ms. Yang.

Yang Hyangja: Thank you.

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