[General Election Battleground] ⑤ Subtle Voter Sentiment in 'Bundang Under Heaven'... Fierce Contest Between Ruling and Opposition Parties

Traditional Conservative Strength... Recent Opposition Momentum
Pangyo Included in Bundang-gap... Opposition's New Faces Emerging
Ruling Party's Heavyweights Clash in Bundang-eul
Local Residents Say "We Will Choose Candidates with Efficacy"

"Which party do you support? I’m not interested in parties; I will choose the person (candidate) I like."

On the 22nd, at U-Space in Sampyeong-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, Kim (36), who was drinking coffee with colleagues at an outdoor caf? table, answered this way when asked about next year’s general election. Introducing himself as an "8-year employee working in the IT industry at Pangyo Techno Valley," he said, "I’m tired of ideology," and added, "Isn’t it reasonable to elect someone who can immediately help my life?" Colleagues nearby agreed, saying, "We have never felt a sense of 'efficacy' by dividing into progressives or conservatives."

A panoramic view of the Youspace and H Square area in Sampyeong-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, where restaurants, cafes, and other facilities used by office workers in Pangyo Technovalley are gathered. Photo by Heejoon Jang junh@

Bundang is an electoral district considered a fierce battleground between the ruling and opposition parties every election season. Seongnam-si, which includes Bundang-gu, was a progressive-leaning area where Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, served as a two-term mayor from 2010 to 2018, followed by former mayor Eun Soo-mi. However, the situation is different when looking at Bundang alone. Except for the 2016 20th general election when former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-kwan was elected, conservative candidates have generally held the upper hand since the Bundang district was divided into Gap and Eul constituencies in 2010.

Bundang-gu’s "conservative dominance" is also evident from recent major election results. In last year’s 20th presidential election, Yoon Seok-youl, then the People Power Party candidate, received 183,094 votes (55.00%) in Bundang-gu, surpassing Lee Jae-myung, who had served as mayor of Seongnam, by more than 10 percentage points with 140,966 votes (42.34%). In the same year’s 8th local elections, Kim Eun-hye, then the People Power Party candidate, won Bundang-gu with 140,622 votes (56.41%), overwhelmingly defeating Kim Dong-yeon, the Democratic Party candidate, who received 104,254 votes (41.82%) by more than 15 percentage points.

Bundang Gap, Opposition’s 'Ahn Cheol-soo Rivals' Proliferate... 'Young Voters' as a Variable

Seongnam Gap is traditionally a conservative stronghold, but it is too early for the ruling party to be complacent. Although it has a high proportion of original residents and is considered one of the high-income areas in Gyeonggi Province, classified as a conservative base, the variable is the "young population" influx centered around Pangyo Techno Valley. It is difficult to predict which way the "young voters," who have a high proportion of independents, will lean. For example, in the 21st general election, Kim Eun-hye, the United Future Party candidate, narrowly won against Kim Byung-kwan of the Democratic Party by only 0.7 percentage points?a difference of just 1,128 votes.

In the People Power Party, incumbent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, who settled in the district through a by-election in June last year, has already expressed his intention to seek re-election. He is known to pay special attention to managing his constituency, personally overseeing local schedules every week. Starting with a constituency report meeting on the 25th, Ahn plans to solidify public support by targeting residents with "new town redevelopment." A staff member from his office emphasized, "Since his time as the chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, he has listed the redevelopment of first-generation new towns as a national agenda, and the first bill he proposed in the 21st National Assembly was the enactment of the Special Act on the Regeneration of Aging New Towns."

The opposition is keenly watching for a "new face" to challenge Ahn. Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-kwan’s candidacy for next year’s general election is uncertain after he was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial in September this year on charges of sexual harassment. Kim also resigned as the local party chairman.

In local political circles, lawyer Ahn Seong-wook, known to have close ties with Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, is being strongly mentioned. Ahn served as vice chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission during the Moon Jae-in administration and is a former chief prosecutor who graduated from the same judicial training institute class (23rd) as President Yoon. Considering his local recognition and the Democratic Party’s "anti-prosecution offensive," he is seen as having an advantage in securing the party nomination.

Also, Ryu Ho-jeong, a Justice Party lawmaker (proportional representation) who held the title of "youngest lawmaker" in the 21st National Assembly, is preparing to run in Bundang Gap. Ryu has a background as a youth labor activist after being fired from a game company in the Pangyo area. Since entering the National Assembly as a proportional representative, she has been known to focus on consolidating public support by opening an office in Yatap-dong.

Bundang Eul, Recently Flagged by the Democratic Party... Ruling Party’s Star-Studded Contest

Bundang Eul has recently seen cracks in its "conservative fortress" as the Democratic Party has consistently planted its flag. During the MB administration, Im Tae-hee, known as the "King’s Man," was a candidate for the Grand National Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) and served three consecutive terms in Bundang Eul starting from the 16th general election. In the 18th general election, he recorded the highest nationwide vote share of 71.06%, writing a history of conservatism. However, in the 2011 by-election held after Im was appointed chief of the presidential secretariat, Son Hak-gyu, then leader of the Democratic Party, achieved a surprise victory. Although the Saenuri Party reclaimed the district in the 19th general election, the stronghold of conservatism was broken as Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-wook was consecutively elected in the 20th and 21st general elections.

Heavyweight candidates from the ruling party are weighing their bids. It is speculated that Kim Eun-hye, presidential office spokesperson who was originally elected in Bundang Gap, has decided to run in Bundang Eul, and there are rumors about Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik’s candidacy. Although Kim is being requested to run in Seoul Songpa or Gyeonggi’s Suwon and Yongin, it is said that she strongly wishes to return to Bundang.

Jungang Park located in Sunae-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province. Many middle-aged and elderly residents enjoy outdoor activities from early afternoon at the park facilities, including the loess road. Photo by Heejun Jang junh@

Residents’ reactions are mixed. Seong (60s), a woman met on the dirt path of Central Park in Sunae-dong, said, "Isn’t he the person who left after two years to become governor after we barely elected him?" She added, "I thought he would at least come back to the region after losing." On the other hand, her spouse Kim (65) mentioned "Yoon’s support" and said, "Still, we need to elect a strong candidate like Kim Eun-hye to benefit the region."

Expectations for Minister Park were also evident. Jeong Jae-ho (49), a businessman met near Parkview Apartments in Jeongja-dong, a symbol of "conservative voter sentiment," said, "I still remember when he lost the election in Busan and went to embrace the opposing candidate," evaluating him as "a rational and inclusive person." He added, "Everyone knows he has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 20 years," expressing his support repeatedly.

Banners of Kim Byung-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, are easily spotted throughout the Bundang district. He appears to be focusing all efforts on managing his constituency, centering on current issues such as "new town maintenance." Photo by Jang Hee-jun junh@

Kim Min-su, spokesperson for the People Power Party who narrowly lost to Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-wook in the last general election, is also reportedly considering running. Local political circles regard Kim as the "de facto local party chairman" and consider him a candidate with strong organizational power. A People Power Party official in Seongnam said, "With leadership experience as a businessman and the experience gained at the central level after the general election defeat, his competitiveness has significantly improved." It is also said to be a "watch point" whether he will face the two leading candidates or join forces with one of them.

In the Democratic Party, incumbent and "pro-Lee Jae-myung" lawmaker Kim Byung-wook is seeking to defend his constituency. In areas such as Sunae-dong and Jeongja-dong, banners from Kim Byung-wook’s office are noticeably displayed at every intersection. This is interpreted as a sign of focusing all efforts on defending the constituency, centering on issues like "new town redevelopment." A staff member from Kim’s office said, "It’s a difficult constituency no matter who comes," but added, "We plan to focus on informing people about what we have done for the region through re-election and appeal as 'Kim Byung-wook who works well' during the election campaign."