Kim Eun-hye "Economic bureaucrats understand residents' lives as numbers... I ran around on foot myself" [Local Election Relay Interview⑧]

Gim Eun-hye Gyeonggi Governor Preliminary Candidate

Strength in Daily Issues Compared to Yu and Kim
Amid Ongoing Yoon Support Controversy Inside and Outside the Party
"I Won't Run Just Because Someone Pushes Me"

Kim Eun-hye, Member of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

"Compared to presidential candidates from the economic expert background who emphasize grand narratives, Gyeonggi Province expert Kim Eun-hye, who is strong on everyday issues that Gyeonggi residents suffer from, is much more advantageous in persuading the centrist and youth demographics."

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party and a preliminary candidate for Governor of Gyeonggi Province, emphasized in an interview with Asia Economy on the 20th, "Economic bureaucrats probably understood the lives of Gyeonggi residents as numbers written on paper," adding, "I ran around on foot, working closely with residents to solve problems." She pointedly criticized her intra- and extra-party opponents, who coincidentally are economic experts. Incidentally, this day marked the start of the People Power Party's primary for the Gyeonggi Province governor candidacy.

Regarding her reason for running in this election, Kim stated, "Seeing the Democratic Party candidates competing to be proxies for former Governor Lee Jae-myung, I could no longer ignore the calls for me to run."

Kim is also holding her own in a hypothetical one-on-one race against Democratic Party preliminary candidate Kim Dong-yeon, former leader of the New Wave. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter commissioned by OhmyNews on the 18th and 19th, targeting 812 men and women aged 18 and over residing in Gyeonggi Province, in a hypothetical head-to-head race between Kim Eun-hye and Kim Dong-yeon, Kim Eun-hye's support rate was 43.1%, while Kim Dong-yeon had 42.7%. Although this is a neck-and-neck race within the margin of error (±3.4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level), Kim Eun-hye leads by 0.4 percentage points. On the other hand, in a hypothetical race between Kim Dong-yeon and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, Kim Dong-yeon led with 40.6% support compared to Yoo's 36.2%. This poll was conducted via automated response telephone surveys (ARS) with 90% mobile and 10% landline, and the response rate was 5.8%. For more details, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.

The People Power Party's final candidate will be announced on the 22nd. Below is a Q&A with Kim Eun-hye.

- How was the three-round debate with former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, your primary rival?

▲ Former lawmaker Yoo is a senior politician and an excellent leader. I take pride in saying that unlike the excessive negative mudslinging elections happening outside and inside the Democratic Party, this debate was a policy-focused election dedicated to the residents of Gyeonggi Province.

- What is the policy you want to emphasize the most?

▲ I would like to highlight two policies: the Youth Fair Start Support Fund and the 24-hour Children's Hospital. The Youth Fair Start Support Fund is a conservative welfare policy, not a cash handout to everyone. It means that all youth should stand at a fair starting line, but there are conditions. It targets youth with household incomes below 120% of the median income. It is a one-time support during their lifetime, with an annual amount of 3 million KRW, paid in installments up to 500,000 KRW per month. It is an opportunity fund to help youth who find it difficult to even think about employment to become independent and gain courage. Previously, the Youth Basic Income was uniformly provided as local currency, but I plan to provide it in the form of a clean card that can be used as a rental deposit. Also, there is currently no 24-hour children's hospital in Gyeonggi Province due to multiple overlapping regulations. Despite having the largest population in Korea?one quarter of the nation's population?and boasting the highest GRDP (Gross Regional Domestic Product) growth rate, children still have to travel to Seoul when they have a fever or are sick. I will establish children's hospitals in each city and county.

Kim Eun-hye, Member of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

- You emphasize a "prosperous Gyeonggi Province." What are your main economic policies?

▲ The 21st century economic center of South Korea is Gyeonggi Province. Gyeonggi already hosts the foundations of various new industries such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai-Kia Motors, and LG Display, making it the heart of South Korea's future economy. I will implement customized industrial policies for Gyeonggi to unleash the potential of its 31 cities and counties and create synergy. I will integrate the successful DNA of Pangyo Techno Valley into regionally specialized advanced clusters within Gyeonggi and designate them as economic free zones to actively lead South Korea's 4th Industrial Revolution. The northern region of Gyeonggi, which has been neglected, will focus on attracting new industries. Based on the Paju LCD Industrial Complex and Yangju Techno Valley, we will create clusters for display, ICT, and bio-medical industries. The western region, where Goyang Video Valley, Paju Publishing Complex, and Gimpo Cinepolis are located, will become a K-content cluster and a new growth axis for Gyeonggi's development. The southern region will be the forward base to make South Korea a winner in the global semiconductor war. We will establish a semiconductor R&D support belt in Yongin, Pyeongtaek, and Hwaseong and induce the return of the global semiconductor industry seeking to move away from China.

- There are still ongoing controversies about "Yoon's influence" inside and outside the party. What is your stance?

▲ I believe the core criteria for cabinet appointments and party nominations should be competence. I ran to compete fairly, be evaluated by ability, and take responsibility for the results. I am not politically reckless or inexperienced enough to run in such a major election just because someone pushed me. I have focused solely on Gyeonggi Province and the people's livelihood. I have not wavered back and forth, and I will continue to do so.