[Local Election Relay Interview] ⑤ Kim Jin-tae "Attract Samsung to Wonju to Make It a Semiconductor Hub City"

Kim Jin-tae Gangwon Governor Preliminary Candidate

"If the local election is lost, the Yoon government will become a plant government"
Promise to expand Chuncheon metropolitan transportation network

Kim Jin-tae, preliminary candidate for the People Power Party in the Gangwon Province gubernatorial election on June 1./Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jin-tae, known for his image as a ‘hardline politician,’ is challenging the position of Governor of Gangwon Province. He emphasized that if he does not win in this local election, the newly launched Yoon Seok-yeol administration could become a ‘puppet government,’ and stressed the necessity of victory. He also stated that a ‘new person’ is needed to create a new Gangwon Province.

- What is the public opinion in Gangwon Province?

▲ Gangwon Province has faced a crisis under the Democratic Party’s provincial administration for the past 12 years. It is often called the ‘lost 12 years.’ In the recent presidential election, Yoon Seok-yeol won a landslide victory in the Gangwon region. He won by a margin of 12.46% in votes, which cannot be explained solely by the desire for a regime change. During his candidacy, Yoon referred to Gangwon as his maternal hometown. The residents of Gangwon seem to feel a connection to the president because of this. Also, since the regime change was hard-won, they want to allow the new president to work effectively.

- What is the key pledge you emphasize the most?

▲ I will request President Yoon to designate Wonju as a semiconductor hub city. I plan to attract Samsung Electronics to Wonju, making it the industrial and economic center and a semiconductor hub city, and the first city in Gangwon Province to reach a population of 500,000. I will complete a metropolitan transportation network in Chuncheon to enable travel to Seoul within 30 minutes. A new inland railway will be laid from Chuncheon to Wonju. I will establish a second Gangwon Provincial Government office in Gangneung and relocate some functions there. As part of the Seoraksan revival plan, I will add one more cable car.

- Which policies of the previous governor would you like to continue?

▲ In Hoengseong, there is an electric vehicle factory. It is called the ‘e-mobility’ industrial complex, and it even hosts a certification agency, making it very convenient to obtain the frequently changing automobile parts certifications. I think this aspect should be maintained and further developed.

Jin-tae Kim, preliminary candidate for the People Power Party in the Gangwon Province gubernatorial election on June 1./Photo by Hyun-min Kim kimhyun81@

- How will you conduct your election campaign in Gangwon Province?

▲ I am traveling all over Gangwon Province to greet people, and many say I don’t seem like Kim Jin-tae. They often say I look younger and have a softer impression than on TV. Because there are no events due to COVID-19, I meet people on market days such as the 5-day market. This bag is a genuine cowhide bag I bought for a hefty 30,000 won at the Samcheok market. I carry it like a part of myself. There is a lot of quaint fun at the market.

- Former President Park Geun-hye met with President Yoon and also served as the support committee chair for lawyer Yoo Young-ha

▲ Meeting the president was a bit late. I hoped to meet before the presidential election, but I am glad to meet now before it gets any later. I think supporting lawyer Yoo is a natural human sentiment. Since he was the only communication channel for someone who faced difficulties, I understand the intention to help candidate Yoo in that sense.

- Have you met former President Park separately?

▲ I have not met her so far. I have not contacted her either. Even if I meet her now, I wouldn’t know what to say first... I think my heart would be heavy. I believe winning this election, in which I have thrown my hat in the ring, will also be helpful for her.

- There is an internal evaluation that you might gain support from the 2030 generation

▲ If they get to know my true self, I think the 2030 generation will support me. I have felt somewhat unfairly framed in several ways, but if I communicate properly with the younger generation, I believe we can get closer than now. I frequently shoot and upload short videos, and I have heard that viewers find them entertaining.