Ulsan is where the most candidates are running among the metropolitan mayoral races in this local election. Candidates from the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party, as well as the Rebuilding Korea Party, The Progressive Party, and independents, have entered the race. From the progressive camp, Democratic Party candidate Kim Sang-uk, Rebuilding Korea Party candidate Hwang Myeong-pil, and The Progressive Party candidate Kim Jong-hun are running. From the conservative camp, People Power Party candidate Kim Doo-kyum and independent candidate Park Maeng-woo are running.
Ulsan is generally conservative-leaning. However, by region, Nam District, Jung District, and Ulju County show higher support for conservative parties, while Dong District and Buk District, which include workers at Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Motor, show higher support for progressive parties. In the seventh elected term, former Mayor Song Cheol-ho of the Democratic Party was also elected.
On the 11th, Ulsan residents whom ChosunBiz met were split over whom to support for various reasons, including People Power Party candidate Kim Doo-kyum's city administration in Ulsan, Democratic Party candidate Kim Sang-uk's change of party affiliation, and even the recently proposed Democratic Party "special counsel for cancellation of indictment" bill.
◇Ulsan residents react to "cancellation of indictment"
The issue most frequently raised by residents was President Lee Jae-myung's cancellation of indictment. A man in his 60s surnamed Lee (65) who runs a cafe in Ulju County, Ulsan, said, "I don't care whether it's the Democratic Party or the People Power Party," but added, "But isn't 'cancelling Lee Jae-myung's indictment' going too far?" He continued, "I was angry because the People Power Party wasn't doing its job properly, but when the Democratic Party said it would push a special counsel for cancellation of indictment, I decided I would never vote for it."
A man in his 50s surnamed Lee (52) whom we met in Jung District, Ulsan, also said, "An ordinary person, whether guilty or not, faces judgment by the law," adding, "Frankly, even after retirement a president will wield tremendous power, and if prosecutors filed a fabricated indictment, then let the court determine that. Ordinary citizens couldn't even dream of something like that (cancellation of indictment)."
Separate from the special counsel on cancellation of indictment, there were views that the Democratic Party should be given a chance. A woman in her 30s surnamed Kim (35) who lives in Nam District, Ulsan, said, "Until now I voted along party lines without much thought, but now I want to hear what policies the new dark horse (Kim Sang-uk) will present," adding, "I don't think there's any need to point fingers at Kim Sang-uk for switching parties. I want to give a chance."
◇"Ulsan doesn't vote mindlessly"… polling also shows a dead heat
For People Power Party candidate Kim Doo-kyum, the city bus route overhaul was on many lips. A man in his 50s surnamed Lee from Ulju County, Ulsan, said, "(Kim Doo-kyum) ate away all his votes because of the bus routes," adding, "You can change routes, but if residents say they're inconvenienced, shouldn't you apologize and restore them?" By contrast, a man in his 60s surnamed Kim said, "Mayor Kim Doo-kyum also did a decent job overall."
There was also talk about independent candidate Park Maeng-woo, who led the third, fourth, and fifth elected terms. A woman in her 30s surnamed Lee (35) who lives in Nam District, Ulsan, said, "I think Mayor Park Maeng-woo did well in the past, but it's a shame the People Power Party didn't back him and he lost the nomination." On The Progressive Party candidate Kim Jong-hun, she said, "You can't ignore Buk District and Dong District because labor unions are influential there," adding, "Ulsan doesn't vote mindlessly like other regions."
Polls show an ultra-tight race within the margin of error. Given this, "single candidacy" has become the biggest issue of the election. In a survey conducted on the 4th–5th by Public Opinion Research on behalf of KBS Ulsan and the Ulsan Maeil Newspaper of 804 Ulsan voters (80% wireless ARS, 20% landline RDD), People Power Party candidate Kim Doo-kyum stood at 37.1% and Democratic Party candidate Kim Sang-uk at 32.9%. The Progressive Party candidate Kim Jong-hun was at 14.2%, and independent candidate Park Maeng-woo was at 8.5%.
The response rate of the poll was 6.1%, and the sampling error was ±3.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For details, refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.