Kim Dong-yeon, Elected Governor of Gyeonggi Province
Climactic Close Race Until Final Vote Count, Dramatic Lead
Kim Eun-hye Concedes, Urges "Cooperation with Yoon Administration"
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] In the most fiercely contested area of the recent local elections, Gyeonggi Province, Kim Dong-yeon, the Democratic Party candidate, secured victory after 12 hours of vote counting. For the Democratic Party, which was on the brink, this was a precious win that narrowly avoided a complete defeat in the metropolitan area. It secured at least a minimal margin to check the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's governance.
◆12-hour Comeback Drama= The vote counting resembled a dramatic comeback story. Until the night of the 1st, when counting began, the situation favored Kim Eun-hye, the People Power Party candidate. When the exit polls from the three major terrestrial broadcasters at 7:30 PM showed Kim Eun-hye leading with 49.4% over Kim Dong-yeon's 48.8%, cheers erupted at Kim Eun-hye’s campaign headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Campaign officials gathered in the situation room, including Chief Campaign Chairman Kim Hak-yong, stood up, applauded, and shouted "Kim Eun-hye." However, voices urging caution were also heard, noting that the gap between the two candidates was less than 10 percentage points in a close race.
However, as the gap between the two candidates fluctuated within about 1 percentage point, the atmosphere on both sides grew tense. Around 2:30 AM, when Kim Eun-hye’s first ‘likely win’ appeared, her campaign team cheered again. Meanwhile, officials at Kim Dong-yeon’s camp in Ingye-dong, Suwon, watched the vote count screen in a subdued mood. Standing Campaign Chairman Yeom Tae-young and Chief Campaign Director Park Jeong, among others, maintained serious expressions.
The turnaround happened in the early morning. The two candidates narrowed the gap, and around 5:30 AM, when Kim Dong-yeon took the lead by about 1,100 votes, the mood reversed. Cheers erupted repeatedly at Kim Dong-yeon’s camp, lifting spirits. About an hour later, when the lead reached around 6,000 votes, some people stood up, gave thumbs-up signs, and shouted "Kim Dong-yeon." Inside the situation room, the heated atmosphere was evident as people fanned themselves and drank water repeatedly.
At around 6:50 AM, when news of Kim Dong-yeon’s confirmed victory was delivered, campaign officials congratulated him and his wife with flower garlands and bouquets. Kim Dong-yeon finally smiled brightly, shaking his fist and making ‘heart hand’ gestures in response to the cheers. The final victory was secured as ballot boxes from Democratic Party strongholds such as Uijeongbu, Anyang, and Bucheon in Gyeonggi Province were counted. He won with 49.06% (2,827,593 votes), narrowly surpassing Kim Eun-hye’s 48.91% (2,818,680 votes) by just 0.15 percentage points.
◆Personality Factor Effective... Stepping Stone to Presidential Contender= As the only opposition party metropolitan governor elected in the metropolitan area, attention is focused on Kim’s position within the party. Especially during the election period, he was highly evaluated for his capabilities as an economic bureaucrat, surpassing the ‘Yoon support’ behind Kim Eun-hye, who served as spokesperson during President Yoon Seok-yeol’s transition period.
Given that he is a moderate figure from the New Wave party and promised reform and renewal within the Democratic Party, he consolidated support within Gyeonggi Province, increasing the likelihood that he will play a central role in the party going forward. Kim Dong-yeon, who began his political career as the New Wave presidential candidate in the last presidential election, has overcome a previous failure to emerge as the next presidential contender for the opposition. Particularly, since Gyeonggi Province was the home base of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate and Chief Campaign Chairman in the last election, Kim Dong-yeon’s victory is seen as opening a path not only for himself but also for Lee.
After the vote counting, Kim Dong-yeon expressed on CBS Radio, "Honestly, I did not expect such a dramatic comeback at the final stage." He also cited the Democratic Party’s defeat as due to "a lack of reflection," adding, "I hope we lead changes and reforms that meet the public’s expectations. I want to play that role."
Meanwhile, Kim Eun-hye, who lost the race, accepted the results, saying, "I thank the residents of Gyeonggi Province for their generous support." She urged Kim Dong-yeon, "There is no party line in the development of Gyeonggi Province. I hope you cooperate with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and repay the residents of Gyeonggi Province with good governance."
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