Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is seeking re-election in the June 3 local elections, emphasized that "I am a 'cash asset' ready to be deployed immediately" and that "Gyeonggi Province's support is essential for the success of the Lee Jae-myung government." He compared rival candidate Choo Mi-ae to a "reform asset" and candidate Han Jun-ho to a "future asset," signaling his willingness to unite by saying, "Even if a candidate fails to advance to the runoff, I will carry on their pledges or develop them into shared commitments." Regarding the general election opponent, he assessed former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a potential People Power Party candidate, as "a reasonably decent candidate," adding, "I want to face a proper candidate, not a Yoon repeat." On regional pledges such as "semiconductor factory relocation," he stressed, "I will absolutely protect the core industrial base." The following is the full interview.
Q: Why should it be Kim Dong-yeon?
There are people who think that whoever becomes the Democratic Party candidate will win no matter what, but that is not the case. In the election four years ago, I won by a margin of just 0.15 percentage points. With more than 12 million eligible voters, I barely won by a gap of 8,900 votes. We need a candidate who has general election competitiveness and can absorb public sentiment.
Q: What is your strategy to secure party members' support?
Much of the work I have done for the Democratic Party's values over the past four years has not been widely known, and I intend to change that. Gyeonggi Province mounted the most active resistance during the illegal martial law declaration on December 3. Through various Gyeonggi Province policies, I have spread the Democratic Party's values. I will earn the support of fellow party members with pledges to further expand those values.
Q: Considering that the primary could go to a runoff, how do you plan to absorb votes from eliminated candidates?
All the candidates who entered the runoff are outstanding individuals. One is a "reform asset" and the other is a "future asset." I am a "cash asset" ready to be deployed immediately. If a candidate fails to advance to the runoff, I will make every effort to carry on their pledges, develop them into shared commitments, or embrace their good policies and move forward together.
Q: You have recently been apologizing to party members. Do you believe you have won back their hearts?
After the local elections four years ago, I think arrogance came from the overconfidence of having dramatically won a difficult election. I am reflecting on that. This is not something I am saying as an election strategy ahead of the vote. I am actively working to support the success of the Lee Jae-myung government.
Q: On the opposition side, no candidate has been finalized. Is there someone you want to face?
I want to face a proper person. I hope it will be someone truly normal, not a Yoon repeat. I want to compete on policy. It is not appropriate to name a specific individual, but I have heard talk of the People Power Party trying to persuade former lawmaker Yoo. I have described him as "a reasonably decent candidate."
Q: Pledges to attract advanced industries such as semiconductors to other regions are proliferating. What is your response?
I will absolutely protect Gyeonggi Province's core industrial base. Not for Gyeonggi Province's sake, but for the sake of South Korea. In the case of the semiconductor cluster, SK hynix's site has nearly completed its first-phase construction, and Samsung Electronics has finished compensation for more than 50% of the land. Changing this under these circumstances would be an act of suicide for South Korea's semiconductor industry.