Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon characterized the upcoming June local elections as "a venue for positive assessment of the Lee Jae-myung government's achievements and political judgment against 'Yoon Again' forces," expressing confidence in a landslide victory by leveraging his strengths as an economic expert.
Appearing on OhmyTV's "Park Jung-ho's Hot Spot" on the 20th, Kim responded to questions about the election's significance, stating, "President Lee Jae-myung has demonstrated crisis management capabilities and is leading state affairs well, earning strong public support." He added, "This election carries the dual character of a positive evaluation of the Lee government's first-year achievements and the political dissolution of forces called the 'Another Yoon Party.'"
Kim offered relatively favorable assessments of his primary competitors. He described Rep. Choo Mi-ae as a "reform asset," Rep. Han Jun-ho as a "future asset," Rep. Kwon Chil-seung as "an experienced politician," and Rep. Yang Ki-dae as "a person with drive," praising all as "valuable assets to the party." He characterized himself as a "cash asset who gets things done and understands economics," highlighting his practical leadership.
"A president who gets things done needs a governor who gets things done," Kim emphasized. "There is no time for trial and error." He appealed for support, saying, "If given another opportunity, I will support the success of the People's Sovereignty Government and improve the quality of life for Gyeonggi residents."
Regarding People Power Party candidates, Kim displayed confidence, stating, "I hope a properly competitive candidate emerges to compete fairly," while criticizing that "forces calling for 'Yoon Again' should not exhaust the public."
On the possibility of former Rep. Yoo Seung-min entering the race, Kim allowed that "he could be one of the candidates," while emphasizing, "If I pass the primary, I will lead landslide victories across all 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province."
Kim highlighted stark differences between the former Yoon Suk Yeol government and the current administration. "During the Yoon government, Gyeonggi Province responded most actively against fiscal austerity and policy reversals," he claimed. "There were 14 raids on the provincial government offices, and we faced discrimination in policies and budgets." In contrast, he assessed the period since President Lee's inauguration as "a very dynamic 10 months with governance emphasizing speed and tangible results."
On economic policy, Kim strongly supported the government's plan to formulate a supplementary budget. "Now is the time to use fiscal resources," he said. "Considering Middle East tensions, rising exchange rates, and public hardships, the supplementary budget is timely." He added, "The principles of economic crisis response are speed, boldness, and sufficiency. Gyeonggi Province will also provide support through a supplementary budget."
Kim also offered assessments of past Democratic presidents. He described former President Kim Dae-jung as "a giant," former President Roh Moo-hyun as "a leader with a passionate heart," and former President Moon Jae-in as "a dignified president." Of President Lee Jae-myung, he said, "He is a leader with empathy formed through difficult times and outstanding problem-solving abilities."