"'Incorporating Gimpo into Seoul' Yeo Party's Secret Card... Will It Shake the Capital Region's Public Sentiment?"

People Power Party "Aiming to Fulfill the Wishes of Gimpo Citizens"
Open to Considering Other Areas if Desired
Opposition Urges Careful Review and Remains Reserved

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, announced that he will push for the incorporation of Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province into Seoul as a party policy, sparking busy vote calculations in the political sphere. The ruling party has unveiled a 'secret weapon' ahead of next year's general election, while the opposition is taking a cautious stance.

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said after the floor strategy meeting on the 31st, "I understand that the people of Gimpo want the incorporation of Gimpo into Seoul," adding, "Those responsible for public duties in Gimpo, including the mayor, have already argued that incorporation into Seoul is necessary. After various considerations within the party, we concluded that incorporating Gimpo into Seoul is desirable for the local residents, so we decided to push it as a party policy." He explained that incorporating Gimpo City into Seoul is not a 'general election strategy' but a fulfillment of the wishes of the Gimpo citizens.

Passengers are disembarking at Gimpo Airport Station after using the Gimpo Goldline. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Floor leader Yoon said, "I understand that the Policy Committee will review it," and added, "It will be promoted in the form of a member's bill." If the government pushes it, coordination between metropolitan governments is necessary, but in the case of a member's bill, only the approval of Gimpo citizens is required, assuming it passes the National Assembly.

The People Power Party also stated that it is considering incorporating other areas besides Gimpo into Seoul. Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, met with reporters after watching President Yoon Suk-yeol's National Assembly policy speech on next year's budget at the plenary session and said, "In the case of cities surrounding Seoul, respecting the residents' will to align living areas with administrative districts is the right path for our people," adding, "Under such principles, it is right to handle the matter by respecting the residents' wishes as much as possible." Floor leader Yoon also said, "We are prioritizing Gimpo and will consider other areas when there are demands from local residents," adding, "If that happens, we will actively consider it. However, there must be demands from the residents."

Park Soo-young, a People Power Party lawmaker, said on social media, "We think Seoul is too big, but the fact is not so," adding, "If the people of Gimpo want it, we have announced that we will incorporate Gimpo into Seoul. However, there is no need to limit the incorporation to Gimpo alone," and continued, "Efforts to align residents' living areas with administrative districts are a natural responsibility of the government, so there is no reason not to ask the residents of Goyang, Guri, Hanam, Seongnam, Namyangju, Uijeongbu, Gwangmyeong, Gwacheon, Anyang, and others." He added, "This is a global trend," and said, "Reducing residents' inconvenience through mega-cities and enhancing international competitiveness is the current trend."

The opposition party expressed a 'cautious review' stance and remained reserved.

Park Joo-min, senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, said on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' program, "This is a complex issue that requires reviewing and considering various factors, including adjusting the interests of each local government, so it is not something to be thrown out lightly," adding, "(The ruling party) may have thrown it out too easily. I think a cautious review is necessary."

A policy committee official from the Democratic Party said, "In short, it is out of the blue," adding, "The ruling party is pushing it so hard that we have lost words." The official said, "Responding officially to such absurd claims only fuels the issue," and added, "Since this is a matter involving Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, it should be discussed between the two local governments if necessary. If they start calculating votes ahead of the election, conflicts will only intensify."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

While the general interpretation in the political sphere is that the People Power Party has caused a major stir in the metropolitan election battle with the 'Mega City Theory' ahead of next year's general election, there is also analysis that incorporating Gimpo into Seoul could have a negative impact on the party's election strategy. Park Won-seok, former policy committee chairman of the Justice Party, pointed out on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that "Seoul citizens may not welcome it," and "There will be strong opposition even in nearby areas of Gyeonggi Province that are not subject to incorporation."

There are also voices concerned about a possible backlash in public opinion if the incorporation does not happen. Jang Sung-chul, director of the Center for Sympathy and Debate Policy, said, "If it does not materialize, it could be ridiculed."