[General Election Battleground](21) 'Small but Significant' Dapsimni Battle... New Town Voter Sentiment on Edge

Single-Area Minimum Electoral District, Seoul Dongdaemun-gu Eul
'Pro-Myeong' Incumbent Jang Kyung-tae... Ruling Party's 'Pro-Yoon' Kim Kyung-jin Launches Campaign
"Solving Commuting Hell" Residents Alert to Traffic Issues

It is a "small but significant" battleground. In the smallest single-area electoral district, Seoul Dongdaemun-gu Eul, 'pro-Myeong' incumbent Jang Kyung-tae of the Democratic Party of Korea faces a challenge from 'pro-Yoon' former lawmaker Kim Kyung-jin. Although it was an area with strong progressive support, the conservative faction has become prominent since the development of the New Town, making a fierce contest expected.

Apartment complex in Jeonnong-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The area of the Seoul Dongdaemun-gu Eul electoral district is about 6㎢, the smallest among 254 constituencies. However, with the mainline pro-Yoon and pro-Myeong candidates facing off, it has emerged as a hotly contested region. It belongs to the 'Gangbuk line,' where the Democratic Party has shown strength, but it was once considered a conservative stronghold. This is the district where Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo planted his flag during the 2001 by-election and served three terms from the 17th to the 18th National Assembly. The Democratic Party succeeded in reclaiming the district following the unexpected victory of Min Byung-doo of the Democratic United Party in the 19th general election.

After former lawmaker Min was re-elected, Jang Kyung-tae, then the national youth committee chairman, won in the 21st general election, allowing the Democratic Party to hold the district for over 10 years. However, it is not a time to be complacent. The resurgence of conservative forces centered around the New Town areas of Jeonnong-dong and Dapsimni-dong is a variable. In the last presidential election, Yoon Seok-youl of the People Power Party received 112,890 votes (49.2%) in Dongdaemun-gu, surpassing Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, who received 108,171 votes (47.1%). The results were the same in Jeonnong-dong and Dapsimni-dong, while Lee had the upper hand in the relatively underdeveloped Jang-an-dong area.

'Young Politician' Jang Kyung-tae: "I will finalize the light rail project"

Jang Kyung-tae, the Democratic Party candidate running for the 22nd general election in Dongdaemun-gu Eul, Seoul, is campaigning near Dongdaemun Middle School on the 3rd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Jang Kyung-tae, the Democratic Party candidate running for the 22nd general election in Dongdaemun-gu Eul, Seoul, is campaigning near Dongdaemun Middle School on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Jang Kyung-tae, the Democratic Party candidate seeking re-election, is a graduate of Seoul City University and has over 20 years of deep ties to the area. He started his first life in Seoul here and still lives in the district as an incumbent. As a 'dirt spoon' late-blooming university student, he is strong on youth issues. He was the one who proposed the socially significant 'half-price tuition' during his time as student council president.

Within the party, he has grown as a representative 'young politician,' serving as the inaugural university student committee chairman and the first 30-something national youth committee chairman. He holds outstanding titles such as the youngest lawmaker to enter the National Assembly through an open competition rather than strategic nomination, and the first 30-something elected Supreme Council member. Although born in 1983, considering he first stepped into Yeouido as a policy secretary in his early 20s, his political career spans nearly 20 years.

As a Supreme Council member, he has worked closely with leader Lee Jae-myung and has taken the lead in a 'strong opposition' by sharply criticizing controversies such as those involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee. During street campaigns, he repeatedly emphasizes judgment on government issues such as 'tax revenue shortfalls' alongside local issues. Jang has pledged the early commencement of the Myeonmok Line, a long-awaited local project. He plans to designate Jeonnong Station and Jang-an Station, expected to be newly established upon confirmation of the Myeonmok Line, as transit-oriented development zones. Additionally, he promised to introduce autonomous circular buses connecting commuting and living areas and to modernize traditional markets, which are also symbols of the region.

'Locally Focused' Pledges... Kim Kyung-jin: "Attract Seoul City University Medical School"

Candidate Kim Kyung-jin of the People Power Party, running for the 22nd general election in Dongdaemun-gu Eul, Seoul, is campaigning on Jang-anpyeongjebang-gil on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Kim Kyung-jin, the People Power Party candidate running for the 22nd general election in Dongdaemun-gu Eul, Seoul, is campaigning on Jang-anpyeongjebang-gil on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

While the opposition emphasizes a 'judgment' narrative, the People Power Party focuses on 'personality.' Kim Kyung-jin, a former prosecutor, entered politics as a legal special advisor to Moon Guk-hyun of the Creative Korea Party during the 17th presidential election. He is a pro-Yoon figure from Honam and is classified as 'centrist and integrative.' After passing through the Democratic Peace Party, he was elected in Gwangju Buk-gu Gap as a member of the People’s Party during the 20th National Assembly. Among his notable achievements during his term is his role in the 'state power abuse' hearings, where he drew attention by sharply questioning witnesses with "Yes or No" answers without raising his voice. Ahead of the 2021 presidential election, he joined Yoon Seok-youl’s campaign as an external cooperation special advisor, becoming a member of the People Power Party.

He is promoting 'locally focused' pledges such as attracting a public medical school to Seoul City University and adding an entrance to Jeonnong-dong at Cheongnyangni Station on the GTX line. Regarding the major local issue of transportation, he has proposed increasing village and short-distance buses to be deployed at key points during commuting hours. He is also maintaining steady communication with local universities, having held a meeting earlier this month with student council leaders from Seoul City University, Kyung Hee University, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

In particular, the pledge to establish a medical school at Seoul City University is linked to the fact that there is no general hospital-level medical institution in the district. In the adjacent Dongdaemun-gu Gap area, there are four general hospitals. Additionally, Kim has recently communicated with voters on Facebook with brief promises such as "Eliminate subway blind spots" and "Make Dongdaemun-gu an education special zone."

Neck-and-neck within margin of error... "Candidate who will solve transportation problems"

On the 3rd, election campaigners from the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party are canvassing in Jeonnong-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Citizens appeared hesitant to decide whom to support. Kim (51), a merchant at Gyeongdong Market near Jegi-dong Station on Line 1, said on the afternoon of the 3rd, "Pro-Yoon, pro-Myeong, that has nothing to do with us. I don’t know what has improved after the Democratic Party has been here for over 10 years." He added, "It was better when Hong Joon-pyo was here," but shook his head, saying, "Looking at how the ruling party is doing now, I’m not sure they can do that."

The younger generation showed sensitive reactions to controversies ahead of the general election. Kim (23), a university student who returned to school after military service, said, "Watching news about Marine Corps members in the unit, I thought it could happen to anyone," and criticized, "Is it acceptable to 'shut their mouth' in front of the president?" Graduate student Han (27, female) welcomed the medical school pledge, saying, "Considering the school’s status and additional support, I have high expectations." However, she added, "Since the issue of increasing medical school admissions has been controversial, I’m unsure if this is a realistic pledge or something to simply welcome."

The top priority was, of course, the 'transportation problem.' Lee (41), an office worker living in Jang-an-dong, said, "For years, all we hear is 'light rail is coming,' 'subway is coming,' but only words are repeated, so I’m very disappointed," adding, "I will vote for a candidate who can solve the commuting traffic nightmare rather than a specific party."

Public opinion shows a close race within the margin of error. According to a survey conducted by Polling Fair Co., Ltd. commissioned by Dailyan on the 31st of last month, among 500 men and women aged 18 or older residing in Seoul Dongdaemun-gu Eul, Jang Kyung-tae received 47.5% support, while Kim Kyung-jin received 44.0%. (10% landline, 90% mobile ratio, 4% response rate, sampling error ±4.4% at 95% confidence level; for details, see the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website)