Busan Yeongdo, Local Election - Minjoo vs. General Election - People Power... This Time?[June 1 Local Election Battleground③]

Kim Cheol-hoon, Democratic Party Candidate vs Kim Ki-jae, People Power Party Candidate

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Yeongdo-gu, Busan, is an area with a high elderly population ratio, where conservative party-affiliated district mayors have held office since the late 1990s. However, four years ago, an unexpected change occurred when Kim Cheol-hoon, the Democratic Party candidate, defeated Hwang Bo-seung-hee of the Liberty Korea Party in the Yeongdo-gu mayoral election. Attention is now focused on whether Assemblyman Hwang Bo, who was elected as the Jung-Yeongdo district member of the National Assembly under the banner of the United Future Party two years later, can avenge his previous defeat in this local election.

In the March 9 presidential election, the gap between the ruling and opposition candidates in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, was the second smallest in Busan. At that time, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, received 41.61% of the vote, contrasting with most districts in Busan where the 40% barrier was not surpassed. On the other hand, Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, garnered 54.97%, and the vote difference between the two candidates was only 13.36 percentage points, second only to Gangseo in Busan.

Kim Cheol-hoon, the Democratic candidate seeking re-election, is a former three-term district council member. His key pledges include developing a marine culture tourism belt, creating a family-friendly city, and fostering a coffee industry hub. Kim Gi-jae, the People Power Party candidate and a businessman, has built his local base through scholarship foundation activities and volunteer work in Yeongdo. His campaign promises include constructing the Dosin Railway Yeongdo Line (tram), creating a complex cultural space at Bongrae-dong wharf, and providing childbirth incentives of up to 5 million won for the second child.

The support rates for the two candidates are also in a close race within the margin of error. According to a survey conducted by Hangil Research commissioned by Prime Economy from April 7 to 8 targeting 507 residents aged 18 and over in Yeongdo-gu, Busan (sampling error 95%, confidence level with a margin of error ±4.4 percentage points), Kim Cheol-hoon received 38.5% support, and Kim Gi-jae received 42.8%, with the gap within the margin of error. This survey was conducted using 100% wireless ARS with random dialing based on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s resident registration population data as of the end of April. The response rate was 8.6%. For more details, please refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.