"The Problem Is the Economy, the Fixer Is Kim Dong-yeon"... Support Spreads Even to Lee Jae-myung's Advisory Groups

Suwon, The Financial News — Amid external headwinds such as the war crisis in the Middle East, high oil prices, and low growth, support is surging for Kim Dong-yeon, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) primary candidate for Governor of Gyeonggi Province, as the "economic troubleshooter" who will take responsibility for the livelihoods of residents in Gyeonggi Province.
Going beyond mere political rhetoric, professional organizations that work on the front lines of everyday life are steadily rallying behind the so-called "Kim Dong-yeon inevitability" narrative, shaking up the dynamics of the race.
According to Kim Dong-yeon's campaign on the 4th, the Gyeonggi-do Private Taxi Transport Business Association and the heads of its 31 city and county branches visited Kim's Daldal Camp on the 3rd and formally announced their endorsement.
Representing 27,501 private taxi drivers in the province, they stated, "In a crisis of high fuel prices and changes to the transportation system, what we need is not a fighter but a fixer," adding, "Kim is a prepared governor who can deliver real solutions."
Voices from the real estate sector followed. The Korea Association of Realtors Gyeonggi Southern Branch, which has more than 21,000 members, noted, "The administration Kim has shown, including operating a support center for victims of jeonse fraud and cracking down on speculative land schemes, has established fair order in the real estate market," expressing confidence that if he wins a second term, Gyeonggi Province will become the national standard for real estate administration.
The disability rights and welfare sector has also chosen Kim. The 16,200 members of the Gyeonggi-do Disability Solidarity Network pointed to innovative policies such as "opportunity income for persons with disabilities" and explained their support by saying, "He is an empathetic leader who recognizes persons with disabilities not as mere beneficiaries but as valuable assets."
In addition, more than 15,000 members of the Korea System Air Conditioner Maintenance Association added their support, highly praising what they called his "administration that removes social inequality."
Unity within political circles is also notable. Sixteen advisory groups under the Population Future–Healthy Society and Happiness Committee, which reported directly to then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung during the last presidential election, stressed, "The only viable option to complete Lee Jae-myung's livelihood reforms in Gyeonggi Province is Kim Dong-yeon, who has proven competence."
They said, "The core of Lee Jae-myung's spirit is not grand political slogans but taking care of residents' food prices, jobs, and quality of care," adding, "To ensure the success of President Lee Jae-myung, we have chosen Kim Dong-yeon."
These advisory groups consist of seven organizations and sixteen sub-groups under Lee Jae-myung's Population Future–Healthy Society and Happiness Committee: the Health and Happiness Advisory Group under the Committee on Population Future and Healthy Society, the Special Advisory Group on Environment and Local Autonomy, the Meoksanism Goyang Advisory Group, the Han Yechongyeon Gimpo Special Advisory Group, the Integrated Care Advisory Group, the Special Advisory Group for Era Transition and Leap, the Advisory Group on Non-Regular Workers Policy, the Special Advisory Group on Non-Regular Construction Workers, the Advisory Group on Non-Regular Workers in the Textile Industry, the Saeium Contents Advisory Group, the Goyang Women Writers Advisory Group, the Goyang City Special Advisory Group of Artists, the Special Advisory Group on Alleyway Commercial Districts and Local Economies, the Gyeonggi Ieum Ha-yoon Advisory Group, the Special Advisory Group on Democratic Citizenship Education, and the Advisory Group on Multicultural Inclusive Education.
The wave of support for Kim is spreading in all directions, from small business owners in local commercial districts to startup entrepreneurs, overseas Koreans, artists, and senior citizens' associations.
This is being interpreted as an indicator that the policy trust Kim has built during the eighth popularly elected term has taken deep root in public sentiment at the grassroots level.
A representative of Daldal Camp said, "The eyes of the many residents who visited the camp today were all saying the same thing: 'The problem is the economy,'" adding, "As a former chief economic policymaker, Kim will surely win the general election and repay residents for their solemn choice and earnest hopes."

jjang@fnnews.com Jang Choong-sik Reporter