[Report] Dongtan Voters: "Lee Jae Myung Is Capable but Fatiguing, Lee Junseok Is Smart but Unsure About Statecraft"

Dongtan, located in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, is considered one of the largest new towns in the southern metropolitan area. The region has drawn attention in recent years due to its rapid population growth and city infrastructure expansion. The majority of residents are young dual-income couples, professionals in their 30s and 40s, and households with school-aged children. The swiftly changing atmosphere of the area is also reflected in shifting voter sentiment, which had favored the Democratic Party for over a decade. In last year’s general election, Dongtan?specifically the Hwaseong-eul constituency?elected Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, as its lawmaker, highlighting the area’s emergence as a key battleground for centrist-conservative and swing voters.

"Lee Jae Myung did a good job, didn’t he?" said Kim Yujin (41, alias), who was sitting on a cafe terrace near 'Metapolis Mall,' the central commercial district of Dongtan 1 New Town, on the afternoon of the 22nd. Watching her baby asleep in a stroller, she continued, "Lee Jae Myung has a solid track record, like improving transportation networks when he was mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province." While acknowledging Lee Jae Myung’s achievements, she also expressed fatigue, saying, "But with all the news about prosecutors, special investigations, and impeachment, it does get tiring."

A citizen of Dongtan is looking at an election poster attached to Songbangcheon 3 Bridge located in Dongtan Lake Park with a child. (Photo by Dongwoo Lee)

Three years ago, Kim purchased her apartment with a mortgage after initially moving in on a jeonse lease. However, when housing prices dropped by several hundred million won, she experienced significant stress. Fortunately, prices recovered more quickly here than in other regions, but she added that she never wants to go through such an experience again. "In the end, what matters most is who will protect our assets," she said.

Indeed, voter sentiment in Dongtan is shaped by a complex equation involving real estate, transportation, and education. In this area, real estate is not just a daily concern. Especially among the younger generation, there is a strong perception that it serves as the benchmark for determining asset value, future prospects, and stability. A real estate agent in their 50s, whom we met at a local agency, said, "People here seem to care most about which candidate will drive Dongtan’s development. Many residents share memories of waiting in long lines at bus stops during cold winters before the opening of the GTX-A (Greater Seoul Metropolitan Express Railway Line A)."

Campaign banners of Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, and Kim Moon Soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, hung side by side on Dongtan Boulevard. (Photo by Lee Dongwoo)

"Lee Junseok is smart, but he can be a bit abrasive," said Jung Sunghoon (38, alias), an office worker who commutes from Dongtan to the nearby Samsung Electronics Giheung Campus. "My colleagues and I talk about politics a lot during lunch. Lee Junseok is articulate, and when you watch him on YouTube, he explains his thoughts logically, which feels refreshing," he said. However, Jung also noted, "When I see him directly attacking his opponents, I wonder if he’s really fit to lead the country. The presidential election is a different matter from last year’s (April 10 general election)." A man in his 20s near Dongtan Station added, "Now I want to put my hopes in someone who is neither progressive nor conservative. What attracts me to Lee Junseok is how he explains policies in his own words."

Banners of Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, are hung mainly around the busy intersection area with heavy foot traffic.
(Photo by Dongwoo Lee)

Even within Dongtan, voting preferences vary by area. The Osancheon stream, which runs vertically through Dongtan Station, naturally divides the city by generation: the 1st New Town to the west and the 2nd New Town to the east. The 1st New Town, which fans out around Banseoksan Mountain and includes Bansong-dong and Dongtan 1, 2, and 3-dong, has a relatively higher proportion of residents in their 50s and older. The 2nd New Town, which includes Dongtan 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9-dong, is home to many residents in their 30s and 40s and is adjacent to Dongtan Lake Park and Technovalley. According to Ministry of the Interior and Safety resident registration statistics, as of April this year, Dongtan’s population is about 410,000. Approximately 125,000 live in the 1st New Town, while 285,000 reside in the 2nd New Town. The average age in Dongtan New Town overall is 36.6, making it a relatively young city.

These characteristics were clearly reflected in last year’s 22nd general election, after the Hwaseong-eul constituency was redistricted. Hwaseong-eul, which covers the entire 2nd New Town, was once a conservative stronghold, electing Park Bohwan of the Grand National Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) in the 18th general election. However, in the 19th, 20th, and 21st elections, Lee Wonwook was elected, turning the area into a Democratic Party stronghold. Then, with the surprise victory of Lee Junseok, a third-party candidate, last year, the area underwent a generational shift.

Kim Dohyun (19, alias), a high school senior we met at a bus stop near Dongtan Central High School in the 2nd New Town, will be voting for the first time in this presidential election. "Most of my friends get a sense of the candidates from YouTube or short videos. I haven’t watched the debates, but I saw video summaries on Instagram. Lee Junseok seems to be a good speaker," he explained. He added, "Kim Moonsoo and Lee Jae Myung feel a bit old-fashioned. But my parents like Lee Jae Myung."

Of course, conservative sentiment remains significant. "Political stability should come first," said a woman in her 60s living in Bansong-dong. "I think Kim Moonsoo has a lot of experience in government and can lead the country stably." Looking over the displayed produce, she added, "I don’t know if Lee Jae Myung is good at his job, but there always seems to be noise around him, and it feels like he’s always fighting." She concluded, "In terms of long-term stable governance, Kim Moonsoo seems like the better choice."

A man in his 50s, also from Bansong-dong, said he worried a lot about his children’s education when he moved to Dongtan. "Things have improved a lot now, but in the past, the education infrastructure wasn’t good, so it was hard to educate the kids. I’ll be looking at which candidates are interested in these areas?admissions systems, education, and so on," he said. He added, "Maybe because Lee Junseok has a science background, he seems to focus too much on entrance exams. His policies on childcare and similar issues seem relatively weak." A couple in their 50s, taking a walk in Dongtan Lake Park, said, "The presidential election is ultimately about choosing someone who will improve our lives, but these days, it’s hard to say with certainty, 'This is the one.'"

Kim Moonsoo, a member of the People Power Party's presidential campaign, and his team are moving around Dongtan Lake Park in the afternoon of the 22nd to conduct promotional rallies. (Photo by Lee Dongwoo)

Citizens are taking a walk at Dongtan Lake Park.
Photo by Dongwoo Lee