Pyeongtaek-eul in Gyeonggi has emerged as a battleground for the June 3 by-election. Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk, The Progressive Party standing leader Kim Jae-yeon, and Liberty and Innovation leader Hwang Kyo-ahn have already been nominated as their parties' candidates and entered the race. The Democratic Party of Korea and People Power Party have not finalized their candidates yet, but several people have expressed their intention to run.
Pyeongtaek-eul is a place where areas with strong progressive leanings and areas with strong conservative leanings compete with each other. In the past three National Assembly elections, former lawmaker Yoo Ui-dong, who ran with the Saenuri Party and the United Future Party (UFP), won twice, and former lawmaker Lee Byung-jin, who ran with the Democratic Party, won once. This by-election is being held because former lawmaker Lee Byung-jin was confirmed to lose his seat due to a conviction for violating election law.
◇ "progressive advantage" in Godeok New Town, many Democratic Party supporters… mixed reactions to Cho Kuk
In Godeok New Town, where a Samsung Electronics plant has opened and many voters are young, there was a strong mood in favor of the Democratic Party. On the 20th, a woman in her 30s, a full-time homemaker surnamed Kim, said, "I don't even know who will run from the Democratic Party, but I'll vote for the Democratic Party," adding, "The biggest thing is that I don't want to vote for the People Power Party." A man in his 40s surnamed Moon, an office worker, also said, "Whether Cho Kuk runs or not, I will vote only for the Democratic Party."
Among people in their 60s and 70s, there were not a few who said they would choose former lawmaker Yoo Ui-dong or leader Hwang Kyo-ahn. A man in his 70s surnamed Cho, who said he works in real estate, said, "The Democratic Party only boosted stocks and completely wrecked the real estate economy. This neighborhood also has projects for sale, but because they're blocking real estate, the market has died," adding, "Hwang Kyo-ahn is a gentleman, but if the People Power Party runs, I would still pick Yoo Ui-dong."
Opinions were divided on leader Cho Kuk. A man in his 40s surnamed Jang, who runs a small business, said, "As a fellow man, he and his family suffered sacrifices, and now he's coming back," adding, "I think leader Cho Kuk will do well with good intentions."
By contrast, a man in his 40s surnamed Lee, an office worker, said, "Leader Cho Kuk recently wrote 'Pyeongtaek-gun' instead of Pyeongtaek-si on social media, which had a big impact on his image," adding, "It means he doesn't know Pyeongtaek at all. It feels like he knows too little and just came down here strategically."
A man in his 60s surnamed Ahn, a convenience store owner, also said, "Leader Cho Kuk came last week and greeted people, but I said I wouldn't accept the greeting, took his card, and threw it away right away," adding, "I originally supported the People Power Party, but politics has been so boring lately that I don't pay attention."
◇ "conservative advantage" in Paengseong-eup: "the election result will change depending on which way it tilts"
Paengseong-eup has long been categorized as having a conservative advantage. In last year's presidential election, President Lee Jae-myung, then the Democratic Party candidate, lost to People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo. This time, four people have declared their bids from the People Power Party, including former lawmaker Lee Jae-young, who won in the 19th general election, and former lawmaker Yoo Ui-dong, who served three terms in the same area. The Democratic Party also has candidates preparing to run, and there is talk of a strategic nomination.
In this by-election, there is a view in the local political scene that the result could change depending on which way Paengseong-eup tilts.
When asked which candidate they support at a senior center in Paengseong-eup on the 20th, the names of former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Ui-dong and Liberty and Innovation leader Hwang Kyo-ahn came up. When asked about Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk, who recently declared a run in Pyeongtaek-eul, the response was, "This person isn't from here, and did wrong, so we don't like him much."
A man in his 50s surnamed Jung said, "Paengseong has traditionally been strong on the conservative side, but it's no longer a place where people just vote one way unconditionally," adding, "Former lawmaker Yoo Ui-dong has been around a long time and steadily appears at events, but because the party's image is bad, the support isn't what it used to be." A man in his 60s surnamed Na said, "This area used to be conservative at first, but not anymore," adding, "We are the Democratic Party. If Cho Kuk runs, we'll vote for Cho Kuk. The Democratic Party should also nurture Cho Kuk."
In the local political scene in Pyeongtaek-eul, there is also a forecast that "the Democratic Party might field a local candidate under the pretext of local talent, then pursue a single candidacy with leader Cho Kuk."