[General Election Battleground]⑦ The Frontline of the Hangang Belt 'Gwangjin-eul'... Will Gominjeong vs O Shin-hwan Face Off?

Democratic Party Stronghold Since 15th General Election
People Power Party Dominates Last Year's Presidential and Local Elections
Voices of Dissatisfaction Over Underdeveloped Regional Development

"There are many people from Jeolla Province in Gwangjin-gu, so there are slightly more supporters of the Democratic Party of Korea, but honestly, development here is slower compared to other areas. There are many complaints."

Seoul Gwangjin-gu Eul, located at the 'end of the Hangang Belt' and considered the biggest battleground in the metropolitan area for next year's general election, has been classified as a traditional stronghold of the Democratic Party since the 15th general election, with Democratic Party-affiliated candidates winning consecutively. Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, who served as the Democratic Party leader, was a five-term member of the National Assembly representing this district over 20 years, and current incumbent Go Min-jung, also from the Democratic Party, has been active in central politics, including serving as a Supreme Council member.

However, during a visit to Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on the 7th, voices of dissatisfaction about the underdeveloped area were heard repeatedly. Shin (56), who revealed that he left the Democratic Party two years ago, mentioned Kim Nam-guk, an independent lawmaker who left the Democratic Party amid allegations of large-scale coin investment, saying, "What is wrong is wrong, and if you made a mistake, you have to admit it." He added, "I will consider the candidate in next year's general election, but I might vote for the People Power Party." He conveyed the atmosphere, saying, "When election time comes, even residents raise their voices about whether they should continue supporting the Democratic Party."

Banners of each party's district committee chairpersons are hung around Guui Station. Photo by Naju Seok

Ruling and Opposition Parties Face Fiercest Battle in Hangang Belt... Democratic Party Stronghold Is a Thing of the Past

The Gwangjin-gu Eul electoral district is considered the fiercest battleground for both ruling and opposition parties in next year's general election. The Hangang Belt, located on the boundary between the safe districts of Gangnam and Gangbuk, has shown volatile voter sentiment in recent elections. In particular, recent election results indicate that Gwangjin-gu can no longer be seen as a Democratic Party stronghold.

In the 2020 general election, Democratic Party candidate Go Min-jung (currently the National Assembly member for Gwangjin Eul) secured 50.4% of the vote, defeating Oh Se-hoon of the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party). However, in the last presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung received only 45.4% support in the Gwangjin-gu Eul area (based on early voting and election day votes within the district), while People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl received 50.8%. In the immediately following local elections, Kim Kyung-ho of the People Power Party, who ran for district mayor, won. Kim secured 52.4% of the vote in Gwangjin-gu Eul, defeating Democratic Party candidate Kim Seon-gap, who received 47.6%.

In past elections, voter sentiment in Gwangjin-gu Eul generally showed Democratic Party strength in Guui 1-dong, Jayang 1-dong, and Hwayang-dong, where row houses and multi-family housing are concentrated, while the People Power Party had higher vote shares in Guui 3-dong and Jayang 3-dong, adjacent to the Hangang riverside. However, in two elections last year, the Democratic Party's vote consolidation weakened in its strongholds, especially with a stronger conservative presence centered around the Hangang riverside area.

Hwayang-dong, in particular, showed notable shifts in voter sentiment. This area was 12.8 percentage points ahead of the People Power Party in the 2020 general election. However, in the 2022 presidential election, the People Power Party reversed this by 3.5 percentage points, and in the local elections, the Democratic Party regained a 2.5 percentage point lead, resulting in a back-and-forth battle. Local political circles also evaluate that the effect of former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, who has strong support among the 20s and 30s age groups, was concentrated here. However, 20s and 30s interviewed near Konkuk University said they "are not interested in politics." This is a key point where youth votes, along with regional development pledges, are expected to influence the election outcome in next year's general election.

A banner of Go Min-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is hung near Guui Station. Photo by Na Ju-seok

Go Min-jung Seeks Reelection VS Oh Shin-hwan Aims for Revenge

In the People Power Party, Oh Shin-hwan, former Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul and chairman of the Gwangjin-gu Eul party committee, is the only candidate mentioned. Oh, who served as a member of the 19th and 20th National Assembly, inherited the district from Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and is preparing for a rematch in this general election.

He said, "Neighboring Seongdong-gu has undergone almost a complete transformation. Compared to surrounding areas like Gangnam and Gangdong facing the Hangang River, Gwangjin has been strangely underdeveloped like an island." He added, "Especially in terms of housing types, the proportion of apartments is low and multi-family housing is high, but we will promote redevelopment through projects like Moa Town (small-scale reconstruction projects) being pursued by Seoul City." He emphasized regional development, saying, "Gwangjin-gu has become a kind of bedroom community, but we will secure commercial zones and attract companies to transform it into a place where people can work."

On the Democratic Party side, Go Min-jung and former Blue House administrator Kim Sang-jin are preparing to run. Incumbent Go said, "The criticism that development has lagged behind has been around for a long time, but to solve this problem, the subway Line 2 must be moved underground first." She added, "Seoul City has rejected this so far, citing that the subway has not yet reached its durability limit, but now that the durability limit has passed, it is possible if the government and Seoul City have the will. Once the above-ground railway disappears, the local view will open up significantly," presenting this as a regional development pledge to defend her seat.

Go introduced, "In the Hwayang-dong area, there are many alleyways, and we are working to make these safer to walk. There are also many tangled overhead power lines, and we are pushing for measures to improve this."

Konkuk University Entrance Station with obstructed surrounding view due to elevated railway. Photo by Naju Seok

Kim, who suffered a setback due to Go's strategic nomination in the last general election, plans to register as a preliminary candidate this time. Kim, originally from Honam and a steering committee member of the Democratic Party Innovation Council, said, "I decided to run after seeing Go oppose the innovation plan at the Supreme Council meeting in August this year." He expressed his intention to promote development through strengthening public housing along with regional development pledges.

Some speculate that former Minister Choo might return to Gwangjin-gu Eul, but local political circles view this as unlikely. Go said, "Indirectly, I heard that (former Minister Choo) said she would not run in Gwangjin-gu Eul, but there has been no public statement, so it is a bit frustrating." A former aide to former Minister Choo conveyed the atmosphere, saying, "She is expected to run in a tough district, not in Gwangjin."

From the Progressive Party, 10-year delivery worker Park Dae-hee has thrown down the gauntlet. Park said, "As a special employment worker, delivery workers do not have basic rights such as the four major insurances that regular workers have. I have done hunger strikes and petitions to change this, but after 10 years, progress has been too slow, so I want to actively step forward to solve our issues ourselves." He expressed his ambition, saying, "I will let people know that it is common sense for ordinary people to enter the National Assembly."