"They’re both about the same, but we should still pick Kim Tae-heum for what he’s done for the province."
"Park Soo-hyun is different from other lawmakers. I’m voting for him no matter what."
In the Chungcheong region, long seen as a swing area in national elections, voters in South Chungcheong Province were split when Aju News spoke with residents on May 6 in places including Gongju and Cheonan.
In Cheonan, more residents interviewed said they planned to vote for Gov. Kim Tae-heum, who is seeking re-election in the June 3 local elections.
A 69-year-old taxi operator surnamed Choi praised Kim’s performance over the past four years but said he worried the Democratic Party could become too dominant nationwide. "Gov. Kim did a good job," he said. "I think I’m leaning toward him again." He added, "It feels like the whole country is turning blue. I hope the Democratic Party won’t conduct legislative activities too unilaterally."
At Cheonan Central Market, Choi Seung-il, 87, said the two candidates were similar but gave Kim a slight edge. "Kim is ahead by one point," he said, adding he would back Kim again as he did in the previous election.
Another market shopper, Kim Dong-wook, 73, said he opposed fiscal support policies such as livelihood support payments and fuel-linked subsidies being pursued by the Democratic Party government. "The Democratic Party has handed out too much money this time," he said. "If this continues, young people will have a hard time living." He said that led him to decide to vote for Kim.
In Gongju, which was also Park Soo-hyun’s constituency, support among those interviewed leaned heavily toward Park, the Democratic Party’s candidate for governor.
A worker in his 50s, surnamed Ko, said he planned to support Park and described it as a punitive vote against the People Power Party, which he accused of "insurrection" and wrongdoing. A voter in his 30s, surnamed Jang, said he would vote for Park because he supports the Democratic Party.
In Gongju, some residents cited calls to punish the People Power Party over former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration, along with strong support for the Lee Jae-myung government.
Ko said he voted for the People Power Party in the last local elections but would back the Democratic Party this time. "If the People Power Party, which shows no reflection over acts of insurrection, loses overwhelmingly, they’ll learn the people can be frightening," he said. He also praised the Lee government, citing what he called bold diplomacy with the United States, practical diplomacy including North Korea policy, and a third round of commercial law revisions that he said helped normalize the stock market.
Jang also criticized what he called acts of insurrection that caused national turmoil. He said he liked the government’s "practical diplomacy" toward the United States and North Korea and said he expected reforms, including strong punishment for elites such as politicians and the media.
Some residents also voiced doubts about Park’s prospects because of anti-Democratic Party sentiment. A 69-year-old taxi driver, Park Jong-young, said Gongju’s mood favored Park but added, "There’s a lot of backlash against the Democratic Party itself, so we don’t know what will happen." Still, he said, "Park is different from other lawmakers. I’m voting for him no matter what."
Others said they would not support either candidate and might skip voting. A woman in her 60s who works at Cheonan’s Yeokjeon Market, surnamed Kim, said she had supported the People Power Party but was put off by what she called the recent conduct of party leader Jang Dong-hyeok. "This year I won’t vote," she said. She added that merchants want redevelopment and said she hoped any candidate would pledge it as a campaign promise.
Across the province, residents commonly called for stronger industrial infrastructure, better jobs and expanded transportation networks. Ko said he hoped South Chungcheong would become more prosperous by attracting industries that fit local characteristics and by improving construction and transportation infrastructure. Jang said he wanted industrial investment and quality jobs for residents. Park said that, as someone in the transportation business, he hoped for expanded transport infrastructure.
Park campaigned in person at Gongju Sanseong Market starting in the morning. Accompanied by Democratic Party candidates for mayor, provincial council and city council, he greeted merchants and shoppers one by one, shaking hands and saying, "I will definitely come back as governor." Some merchants and visitors responded, "Of course we’ll elect Park Soo-hyun as governor. Go, Park Soo-hyun!"
Park said he visited the market because he plans to tour all cities in South Chungcheong as he begins full-scale campaigning, and he wanted his first stop to be Gongju because of his close ties to the city. He said he would work to address hardships raised by residents and merchants.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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