Incheon Gyeyang-eul is one of the most watched constituencies where a parliamentary by-election will be held along with the June 3 local elections. After this president won a second term as a lawmaker and then took office as president, a by-election is being held this time.
The Democratic Party of Korea sent former leader Song Young-gil, who had served five terms in Gyeyang-eul, to another constituency and gave the nomination to Kim Nam-joon, a former Blue House Spokesperson seen as a close aide to this president. In political circles, some said it seems this president "showed the will to 'plant my person in my district.'" On top of that, the People Power Party fielded candidate Sim Wang-seop. ChosunBiz on the 12th visited Gyeyangsan Traditional Market in Gyeyang-eul to hear from candidates and voters.
◇At the market entrance, Jeon Han-gil says "Kim Hyun-tae is Yoon Suk-yeol"
Unexpectedly, hardline right-wing YouTuber Jeon Han-gil showed up at the market first. He was going around with a candidate recommendation letter for former 707th Special Forces Group Director General Kim Hyun-tae, who was dismissed on suspicion of involvement in the lockdown and infiltration of the National Assembly during the Dec. 3 martial law. Jeon kept repeating to a reporter, "Kim Hyun-tae is Yoon Suk-yeol." He did not explain what he meant.
People Power Party candidate Sim Wang-seop appeared with former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo. Sim said, "Gyeyang keeps losing corporations and tax revenue isn't coming in," adding, "Because I come from the business world, I'll be better than other candidates at solving these problems." Kim, who was the People Power Party's candidate in the last presidential election, said, "I came because of Yoo Jeong-bok's Incheon mayoral campaign office opening, and when I heard Sim was going to stump at the market, I came to help."
Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Nam-joon appeared at the market with lawmaker Park Ju-min. After losing in the Seoul mayoral primary, Park is serving as Director General of the "Ottuk Stumping Team," formed by gathering in-party hopefuls who failed to win Democratic Party nominations.
Kim said, "Because former leader Song Young-gil or this president (whose constituency was Gyeyang-eul) have been active in the center, their activities in the district are inevitably less well known, but I will have to produce records and results here to map out my next path, so I will focus more on the district." Park said, "I came to lend even a small hand to Kim's victory."
◇In Gyeyang-eul, 4 of 5 lawmakers elected since 2004 have been from the progressive camp
Incheon Gyeyang-eul has elected five lawmakers since 2004, and four of them were from the progressive camp, including the Democratic Party. This time, too, it was easy to find voters who support the Democratic Party candidate.
Choi, a man in his 60s who runs a dried seafood shop at Gyeyangsan Traditional Market, said he would vote for Kim Nam-joon. "I've lived here 35 years and watched Song Young-gil from his first term, and I have pride that this district produced a heavyweight politician," he said. "But compared with Gyeyang-gap, it's true Gyeyang-eul is underdeveloped. I hope a new young person comes and works hard to revive the constituency."
Kim, a 72-year-old man who runs a lottery shop, also said, "I think it's good for a young newcomer to come in and change the existing political scene," adding, "There's a tendency to coast after serving about two terms in the district, so someone young like Kim Nam-joon should be at the center."
There were also voters somewhat critical of the Democratic Party and Kim Nam-joon. Song, a 49-year-old woman who runs a rice cake shop at Gyeyangsan Traditional Market, said, "We made Song Young-gil a five-term lawmaker, and then he went off to Seoul," adding, "President Lee Jae-myung was the same." She added, "You can see what the Democratic Party thinks of Gyeyang-eul."
Kim, a 61-year-old woman who runs a pharmacy at Parkchon Station, said of Kim, "I'm worried because there's no political experience. I wish someone a bit more seasoned had come."
Kim, a 30-year-old woman met at Lotte Mart, also said, "I was born and raised here and have always voted for the Democratic Party, but there's been no change in the neighborhood. I think the time has come to reconsider." She added, "Kim Nam-joon is a newcomer, so it seems he'll work hard, but I don't know what plans he has for local development."