South Chungcheong is emerging as the fiercest battleground in the final stretch of the election. Incumbent Kim Tae-heum of the People Power Party, seeking a second term, and Park Soo-hyun of the Democratic Party of Korea, backed by the ruling party, are locked in a tight race. The by-election for the National Assembly seat in Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang, triggered by Park's run in the local elections, is also up in the air.
On the 28th, I took the KTX and got off at Cheonan-Asan Station before heading toward the area near Asan Tangjeong Station. Asan is classified as a region with strong Democratic Party support as more young people have moved in. A person surnamed Park (32, male), who runs a pharmacy near Tangjeong Station, said, "Thanks to the Samsung Display City, many young people are coming into Asan," adding, "That's why preference for the Democratic Party has risen." But Park said, "Farmers hurt by the Lee Jae-myung government's attacks on Samsung and its real estate policy banning all land transactions are a swing factor."
In Asan, a by-election is also underway in Asan B to fill the vacancy left by Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik. Jeon Eun-su of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kim Min-kyung of the People Power Party are facing off. Polls show Jeon in the lead. Park said, "Chief Kang did a really good job. The image of Jeon as Kang's successor is working in her favor."
Outside Asan, public sentiment was evenly split. Buyeo has traditionally been considered a conservative stronghold, but disappointment with former lawmaker Chung Jin-suk, who defended former President Yoon Suk-yeol, was dividing voters. A person surnamed Lee (75, male), who runs a bookstore at Buyeo Jungang Market, said, "There will never again be a time when Chung Jin-suk does politics in South Chungcheong," adding, "There isn't a conservative figure I want to vote for."
By contrast, a person surnamed Sun (62, male), who runs a fish shop at Buyeo Jungang Market, said, "In the last local elections, we voted for the Democratic Party, but lawmaker Park Soo-hyun and County Chief Park Jeong-hyeon resigned before completing their terms," adding, "That's why people in Buyeo won't vote for the Democratic Party."
Gongju, Park Soo-hyun's hometown, showed deep affection for the Democratic Party and for Park. A person surnamed Cheon (66, female), who runs a restaurant at Gongju Sanseong Market, said, "Park Soo-hyun has worked in politics for a long time, but he's untainted and still frugal," adding, "When he was the district lawmaker, he made regular visits to the market and listened to the difficulties of taxi drivers and market merchants."
By contrast, a person surnamed Jeong (70, male), who runs a grocery at Gongju Sanseong Market, said, "Kim Tae-heum has always spoken forthrightly since the Hannara Party days, and I like that he handles work in a manly way."
The so-called Gong-Bu-Cheong race in Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang, where a by-election was called after former lawmaker Park Soo-hyun ran for South Chungcheong governor, is likewise hard to predict. Because former Buyeo County Chief Park Jeong-hyeon, once a leading contender, failed to register, the field has been filled with relative newcomers: Kim Young-bin of the Democratic Party of Korea, Yoon Yong-geun of the People Power Party, and independent Kim Hyuk-jung.
A merchant at Gongju Sanseong Market, a person surnamed Jeong (70, female), said, "None of the candidates this time are seasoned, so whoever you pick looks about the same," adding, "In the end, I plan to vote for the one who visited the market often to say hello." A person surnamed Jo (68, female), who was resting at the entrance to Buyeo Jungang Market, said, "I was surprised the Democratic Party candidate was younger than I expected," adding, "It's good to see a generational shift and young workers entering elections."