“People are not very interested. I think most people here feel the same.” (Resident Park from Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province)
Gyeonggi Province, the 'largest voting ground,' is just 12 days away from the presidential election. Hopes for recovery in the living economy are high, but the interest of centrist voters in the political arena has cooled.
Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate from the People Power Party, spent the day addressing youth farmers and participating in rice planting experiences as he campaigned across 'Northern Gyeonggi Province,' which includes Goyang, Gimpo, Paju, Dongducheon, Yangju, and Namyangju.
On that day, Candidate Kim's campaign began at Hwajeong Station in Goyang City. Taking to the podium, he performed his trademark 'deep bow' and emphasized his commitment to developing Goyang City while mentioning Kintex and the Han River. He stated, “I will achieve a transportation revolution so that everyone can travel anywhere from Paju to Seoul Station, and Dongtan within an hour,” adding, “There is over 8 million pyeong of excellent land along the Han River here. This is an unmatched location. I will ensure that many good corporations and research institutes are attracted to this land, turning it into a leading high-tech complex that surpasses Pangyo.”
Unlike the supporters who fervently shouted, “Kim Moon-soo!! President!”, Jin (65, male), who watched the speech from a distance in a nearby shopping area, said he had not yet made up his mind. “Candidate Kim Moon-soo has a stubborn and self-righteous image. Lee Jae-myung seems to change his words a lot. The only thing I remember about him is Daejang-dong…” he said, tilting his head.
Lee (55, male), who was standing in front of a nearby hotteok shop, said, “Candidate Kim Moon-soo is from a movement background and seems decent. But the People Power Party has lost my respect. Therefore, I guess I will vote for candidate No. 1. When just looking at the person, it seems like Lee Jae-myung has been associated with criminal allegations, but anyway, the People Power Party should change. Everyone around me feels the same,” he noted. He added, “Martial law? That makes no sense. I didn’t expect something like that to come up in 2025,” expressing frustration. He continued, “These days, conservative elder citizens are also reluctant to vote. Even if the People Power Party bows their heads and apologizes, it seems it won't affect voter sentiment.”
After finishing his campaign at Hwajeong Station, Candidate Kim headed straight to a rice planting site in Deogyang-gu, Goyang. Wearing a straw hat and boots with a red towel around his neck, he climbed onto a rice planting machine and transformed into 'farmer Kim Moon-soo,' planting rice seedlings with young farmers. After finishing the planting, he sat on a mat with the youth and shared a snack lunch. When a young person mentioned, “80% of young people who enter rural areas leave,” Candidate Kim promised to support their settlement, saying, “I will assist in the robust development of agriculture into corporations” as he left, holding hands with the youth.
At 3 p.m., Candidate Kim took to the campaign vehicle at Gimpo Sawoo Cultural Sports Plaza and, once again, began his speech with a deep bow. He criticized Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, “No matter how much you wear a bulletproof vest and create bulletproof laws, you cannot deceive the public.” He then pointed out the inconveniences of the Gimpo Gold Line and the lack of industrial complexes, promising, “I will definitely resolve traffic issues and create many good research institutes and jobs.”
The reactions of some voters watching the campaign were mixed. Kim (67, female), who said she had been a supporter of Lee Jae-myung in the past, stated, “I can't trust Lee Jae-myung anymore. I liked him during his governorship, but he seems different in his words and actions. However, Kim Moon-soo gives off a more down-to-earth vibe, so he seems okay. My peers support candidate Kim a lot, but the younger ones don’t seem to agree,” she commented. Meanwhile, Park (50, male), who was a bit away from the campaign area in Dongducheon, remarked, “Lee Jae-myung also has risks and doesn’t seem very good, but I think that since this is the Democratic Party side, people will likely vote for Lee Jae-myung.” He continued, “Everyone seems disinterested. Don’t you think all politicians are the same?” indicating he wouldn’t support either candidate.
In the southern Gyeonggi area, disappointment and expectations intersected among strong conservative groups, while apathy was evident among centrist and independent voters.
On the 16th, at a campaign site in Suwon, butcher shop owner Choi (53, male) introduced himself as a member of the People Power Party, expressing his dissatisfaction by saying, “The Man from Nowhere has ruined everything. Even if we unite, it’s already too late.” Lim (67, female) commented, “Given what Kim Moon-soo has done with the GTX and Pangyo Techno Valley, I want to support him.” Park (19, male), who said he saw the campaign site while passing by, remarked, “Honestly, neither candidate feels appealing to me,” adding, “I think the People Power Party will be at a disadvantage. There are many within the people who oppose martial law, and it seems like candidate Lee Jun-seok is also gaining momentum.”
Since surpassing Seoul's population in 2004 due to new city developments, Gyeonggi Province has become the largest voting ground, accounting for nearly one-fourth of the total electorate. Known as a 'miniature version of South Korea,' it is a region that can gauge the overall election landscape, with various generations, classes, and political inclinations intertwined.
Following the influx of a large number of younger individuals since the 2000s, the region's progressive inclination has strengthened, with the Democratic Party consistently showing dominance since the 20th general election. In fact, the Democratic Party secured 53 out of 60 seats in the 2024 22nd general election. It has also positioned itself as a pivotal player in presidential elections. Except for the 20th presidential election in 1987, every president elected since then has been the top vote-getter in Gyeonggi Province. This is why candidates like Kim Moon-soo, Lee Jae-myung, and Lee Jun-seok from the Reform Party are putting considerable effort into campaigning in Gyeonggi Province.
Candidate Kim is scheduled to focus on securing grassroots sentiment in Gyeonggi Province by campaigning in Gwangmyeong and Bucheon on the 22nd.