[Visiting the Battleground] Goyang Gap, Gyeonggi: Mun Myeong-sun and Lee Kyung-hwan Challenge Sim Sang-jung's Stronghold

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] "Goyang needs to change a bit. It's time to elect a powerful party."

The public sentiment in 'Gyeonggi Goyang-gap,' where Sim Sang-jung, the progressive stronghold and leader of the Justice Party, has achieved a third term (including one proportional representation election), is unusual. Recent polls show that Sim's overwhelming presence, which secured a majority in the last general election, seems to be gradually fading in this election cycle.

According to a public opinion poll conducted by Hankook Research on behalf of KBS from the 29th to 30th of last month (targeting 500 residents aged 18 and over in Goyang-gap, with a response rate of 16.6%, and a sampling error of ±4.4% at a 95% confidence level; detailed information is available on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website), Sim received 34.5%, Moon Myeong-sun of the Democratic Party received 33.5%, and Lee Kyung-hwan of the United Future Party received 20.7% support among Goyang-gap general election candidates.

It is a 'three-way race' with no candidate showing absolute dominance. Park (35), who works at a tax firm in Wonsin-dong, said, "The conservative party's support base feels similar to the last general election, but the progressive support base seems to be split between the Democratic Party and the Justice Party," describing the local atmosphere.

With Sim narrowly ahead, the two challengers from the major parties are eagerly seeking an opportunity to overturn the situation. In particular, candidate Moon is actively campaigning with transportation development as a key pledge. In an interview with Asia Economy on the 5th, he said, "Goyang city has several railway lines interconnected like a spider web, but only the suburban line is cut off in our area," adding, "I will restore the suburban line passing through the northeastern part of Goyang (gap) and extend the Jori line." He continued, "I will expedite the construction of the GTX-A line. With the strong power of the ruling party, I will clear the congested roads and create a convenient transportation city, Deogyang, with access in all directions."

Moon, a former banker well known as an expert on the common people's economy, also pledged to propose an 'Inclusive Financial Special Act' for ordinary citizens based on his past experience and knowledge if he enters the National Assembly. He said, "Despite taking out student loans, immediate employment is difficult, leading to a surge in young people with bad credit," and added, "I will propose a special law to convert the student loan system into a lending system, making principal repayment the rule, with repayment after employment and deferment during unemployment."

He added, "Financial costs can be easily improved through policy revisions. Just as Choi Yura, daughter of Choi Soon-sil, received a loan at 0.75%, and large corporations borrow at rates cheaper than general market rates, if financial costs for ordinary citizens had been reduced, tragic incidents like the Songpa three mothers case could have been prevented."

Regarding the calls from some in the progressive camp for unification with Sim, Moon clearly drew a line. He said, "As the candidate of the ruling party, I have unlimited responsibility for the development of the Goyang area," and added, "Many Democratic Party supporters have requested me to complete the race and allow them to cast their vote for the Democratic candidate, and I will also finish the race to the end."

Sim's other challenger, Lee Kyung-hwan, criticized Sim's neglect of the constituency. In an interview, Lee said, "Voters often say that Sim has done nothing substantial in the region," and pointed out, "There are many disappointed voices about the Justice Party, which lost its sense of justice, as shown by Sim's agreement to appoint Cho Kuk as Minister of Justice for party interests."

He continued, "Sim made many promises in the region but achieved nothing, and citizens' lives have not improved," adding, "Having served as party leader and presidential candidate, Sim has been absorbed in central politics, so there is widespread disappointment that she has not contributed significantly to regional development."

Lee, a real estate specialist lawyer, presented 'Gyeonggi division' and transportation development as his main pledges. He said, "I believe the region's underdevelopment is due to overlapping regulations. Overlapping regulations cannot be resolved without political and administrative breakthroughs, and transportation issues are no exception," adding, "I will create a pivotal turning point for Goyang's development by attracting the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Office to Goyang and constructing the Gangbuk East-West Urban Expressway's deep tunnel."

As a concrete plan, Lee intends to propose a 'Special Measures Act for the Division and Development of Northern Gyeonggi' after entering Yeouido. He said, "Regarding the overlapping regulations weighing down northern Gyeonggi, I will bundle 46 laws into one and revise them all at once, achieving effects similar to the Act on Promotion of Decentralization of Central Administrative Authority," and added, "I will establish a legal foundation to resolve the contradiction where northern Gyeonggi, which has not been developed for security reasons, is subject to metropolitan area regulations simply because it is close to Seoul."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Sim, who is on the defensive, is raising the level of scrutiny against the two candidates. At a campaign rally at Hwajeong Station on the 4th, Sim said, "We cannot entrust this Deogyang to the deep-rooted forces who changed their faces from Saenuri Party to Liberty Korea Party to United Future Party. Also, being the ruling party does not mean everything can be done well," criticizing, "This is not something a first-term lawmaker who doesn't even know the neighborhood's name can handle."

She continued, "We remember. When the Democratic Party and the United Future Party created proportional representation parties, we said the people should be feared. I believe the people will make a wise judgment," and said, "The Justice Party will uphold its principles."

She then appealed, "I will firmly complete the change in Deogyang," adding, "Competing against disposable, opportunistic parties, please give your precious vote to the Justice Party, number 6, so that we can protect the socially vulnerable and democracy. Please help grow the Justice Party."