[General Election Battleground] ④ 'Semiconductor Belt' Intense Battle... Fate of Gaehyeok Shindang Hangs in the Balance

Close Race in 13 Electoral Districts Including Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong
2030 Voters' Support Hinges on Presentation of Key Pledges

The so-called "Semiconductor Belt," encompassing Suwon, Hwaseong, and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province, is considered one of the major battlegrounds in the April 10 general election. The Semiconductor Belt, home to global companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, has traditionally been a stronghold of the Democratic Party. However, in the last general election, the vote margin between candidates was around 10 percentage points, making it a region where the Democratic Party cannot be complacent. In the 22nd general election, the competition has intensified with the addition of the Reform New Party led by Representative Lee Jun-seok alongside the two major parties.

Looking at the results of the last general election, the Democratic Party won in 11 out of 12 constituencies in the three main areas of the Semiconductor Belt (Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong), except for Yongin Gap. This year, Hwaseong's constituencies have been divided from the previous Gap, Eul, and Byeong into four districts: Hwaseong Gap, Eul, Byeong, and Jeong, making a total of 13 constituencies in the "Semiconductor Belt." Suwon, where Samsung's semiconductor factory is located, saw the Democratic Party win all five constituencies in the last election. However, recent polls show the People Power Party closing in within the margin of error, indicating a close race. Hwaseong and Yongin are key areas to watch for the rise of third-party forces. Representative Lee Jun-seok is running in Hwaseong, Representative Lee Won-wook in Hwaseong Jeong, and Floor Leader Yang Hyang-ja in Yongin Gap, creating a multi-candidate race.

Suwon, a Strategic Hub in Southern Gyeonggi... A Barometer of Public Sentiment

Suwon is a strategic hub in southern Gyeonggi. Suwon Byeong is particularly noteworthy. The People Power Party strategically nominated former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Bang-gyu. The Democratic Party's incumbent, Representative Kim Young-jin, is seeking a third term. This is essentially a proxy battle between a former minister from the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and a key pro-Lee Jae-myung (pro-Lee) faction lawmaker. According to a recent telephone survey conducted by JoongAng Ilbo through Gallup Korea from the 11th to 14th, targeting about 500 male and female voters aged 18 and over residing in five constituencies, Candidate Kim led Candidate Moon by 9 percentage points, with 44% to 35%. However, a poll conducted by Hangil Research on the 5th (with a 95% confidence level and ±4.4% margin of error) showed Kim at 44.3% and Moon at 42.1%, indicating a close race within the margin of error and suggesting it is too early to be confident.

Suwon Jeong, which includes Samsung Digital City and Gwanggyo New Town, is a place where the voting sentiment of the 20s and 30s generation can be gauged. Democratic candidate Kim Jun-hyuk, a professor at Hanshin University's College of Peace and Liberal Arts, is competing against People Power Party candidate Lee Soo-jung, a professor in the Department of Crime Correctional Psychology at Kyonggi University. Recent polls also show a close contest within the margin of error between the two candidates. According to a survey conducted by Kyongin Ilbo through the Korean Social Opinion Institute (KSOI) on the 11th and 12th using 100% wireless ARS, Kim Jun-hyuk received 43.4% and Lee Soo-jung 40.6%. The People Power Party, having strongly recommended Lee as their first recruited talent, plans to reclaim Suwon Jeong, traditionally a Democratic stronghold.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yongin with a Population of 1 Million... Spotlight on the World's Largest Semiconductor Cluster

Yongin, with a population exceeding 1 million, is the site of the world's largest semiconductor cluster. Yongin Gap, currently vacant, is attracting attention. The Democratic Party candidate is Lee Sang-sik, former Busan Regional Police Agency chief, while the People Power Party candidate is Lee Won-mo, a former presidential office personnel secretary and former prosecutor. The Reform New Party has Floor Leader Yang Hyang-ja, the incumbent representative of Gwangju Seo-gu Eul, running. According to a JTBC poll conducted on March 11-12 (targeting 502 adult men and women), Lee Sang-sik received 43%, Lee Won-mo 30%, and Yang Hyang-ja 4%.

Lee Sang-sik's strength lies in his solid local base. Even after losing the 2022 Yongin mayoral primary, he stayed in the region and strengthened his foundation. He is well acquainted with local affairs and has a strong personal network. He pledged to support the establishment of the SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics semiconductor clusters. Lee Won-mo, as a member of the ruling party, emphasizes his strength in efficiently executing government budgets to fulfill campaign promises. He plans to actively use administrative power for regional development, including early construction of the Namsa and Idong-eup system semiconductor national industrial complex and the extension of the Gyeonggang Line from Gwangju, Gyeonggi to Namsa.

Yang Hyang-ja, competing against the two major parties, is a former Samsung Electronics executive who served as chairperson of the Special Committee on Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness Enhancement in the 21st National Assembly, demonstrating her commitment to semiconductor industry development. She promised to shorten the construction period of the Cheoin semiconductor specialized complex by about three years, with groundbreaking in 2025 and operation in 2028. She also plans to attract global semiconductor companies such as TSMC, Nvidia, and ASML. In Yongin Jeong, the re-entry of Lee Eon-ju, who returned to the Democratic Party, into the National Assembly is also a point of interest. The People Power Party's first recruited talent, Kang Cheol-ho, former CEO of Hyundai Robotics, has also declared his candidacy.

(From left) Lee Sang-sik, Democratic Party candidate for Yongin Gap in the 22nd general election; Lee Won-mo, People Power Party candidate; Yang Hyang-ja, Reform New Party candidate

Hwaseong: Hyundai, Samsung Man, and Lee Jun-seok Big Match

Hwaseong is a core area of the Semiconductor Belt and has long been anticipated as a big match. The Democratic Party nominated Gong Young-woon, former president of Hyundai Motor Company, while the People Power Party nominated Han Jeong-min, a former Samsung Electronics researcher. The Reform New Party has Representative Lee Jun-seok running, creating a three-way race. Hwaseong is notable for having the youngest average voter age in the country at 34.7 years. Capturing the votes of the 20s and 30s generation in the nearby Dongtan 2 New Town is key. This area has been a Democratic stronghold, successfully held for 12 years. According to a recent poll conducted by Incheon Ilbo and Kyungin Broadcasting through Hangil Research from the 15th to 16th, surveying 503 Hwaseong voters via ARS, Candidate Gong received 46.2%, Candidate Lee 23.1%, and Candidate Han 20.1%. Gong leads second-place Lee by more than 20 percentage points.

Each candidate has distinct strengths. Candidate Gong's experience leading major companies as president is notable. His campaign emphasizes the fusion of the semiconductor cluster and the automotive industry. Candidate Lee boasts rich political experience and a powerful voice in central politics. Having served as the ruling party leader and currently leading the Reform New Party, he aims to bring local issues to the national stage. Candidate Han is an expert, having worked as a researcher in the memory business division of Samsung Electronics DS Division. He has lived in Dongtan for 10 years and is well aware of local minor issues, which is considered his strength. Additionally, Hwaseong Jeong is also considered a battleground. Incumbent three-term Representative Lee Won-wook of the Reform New Party is competing in a three-way race against Democratic Representative Jeon Yong-gi and People Power Party's Yoo Kyung-jun.

(From left) Democratic Party candidate Gong Yeong-un for Hwaseong in the 22nd general election, People Power Party candidate Han Jeong-min, Reform New Party candidate Lee Jun-seok