In particular, in seven areas of the "Han River Belt" (Yongsan-gu, Mapo-gu, Seongdong-gu, Gwangjin-gu, Gangdong-gu, Dongjak-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu), which is considered a battleground, all except for one in Yongsan-gu. President Lee has given up all of the places during the last presidential election in his 20s. As a result, analysts say that the great reversal achieved in the Han River Belt this time had a decisive effect on the victory.
In this presidential election, President Lee dominated 21 districts in Seoul, excluding 'Gang, Seo, Song, and Yong' (Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Songpa-gu, and Yongsan-gu), which are traditional conservative areas. Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People's Power, won an overwhelming victory by blocking only four districts. It is a "great change" compared to the fact that in the presidential election three years ago, he gave up 14 districts to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and occupied only 11 districts.
Among them, the change in votes in seven areas of the Han River Belt, which is considered a representative "swing bot," was decisive. Former President Yoon won the 20th presidential election here with a 7-0 complete victory over President Lee, ultimately winning by more than 240,000 votes.
In this presidential election, however, President Lee faced Kim and turned the tables 6-1 except for Yongsan-gu. In addition, Jongno-gu, Jung-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, and Yangcheon-gu, which elected former President Yoon, have also switched to Lee's dominant regions this time. Lee Joon-seok, the presidential candidate of the New Reform Party, did not rank first, but he saved the spark of hope by winning 9.9% of the vote, the highest in Seoul among the nation.
Seoul's change of mind is partly due to former President Yoon's December 3 emergency martial law, which shook the hearts of the middle class, but it is analyzed that President Lee's courtship with various tax cut pledges on the Han River Belt, a region where housing prices have soared, has worked. Since last year, the Democratic Party of Korea has been pushing for an amendment to the inheritance tax law to raise the inheritance tax deduction limit from 1 billion won to 1.8 billion won. In addition, President Lee agreed with the public's demand to abolish inheritance tax for spouses when he was the party leader. The Han River Belt targets the fact that the burden of comprehensive real estate and inheritance taxes increased significantly due to a surge in housing prices during the Moon Jae In istration. This is an area with a relatively high proportion of houses with a market price of 1 billion won to 1.8 billion won.
An official from the Democratic Party of Korea analyzed the results of the election, saying, "We showed our face as a ruling party through the reform of the inheritance tax and helped to win the votes of voters in Seoul."
President Lee also stimulated votes by presenting a "balanced development" carrot in Gangbuk region, where real estate prices are relatively stagnant. During a campaign rally in Gangbuk-gu on the 2nd, the day before the presidential election, President Lee stressed, "We will invest not only in Gangnam but also in Gangbuk, and invest not only in the metropolitan area but also in the provinces to create a world where everyone enjoys opportunities fairly."
In fact, Gangbuk-gu (53.81%) had the highest percentage of votes in Seoul, followed by Eunpyeong-gu (52.99%), Geumcheon-gu (52.03%), and Jungnang-gu (51.74%).
In February and March, Mayor Oh lifted some areas with high public , such as Jamsil, Samsung, Daechi, and Cheongdam, from the Toheje area.
However, as housing prices in the area soared, the policy was eventually withdrawn, and furthermore, the government faced headwinds by designating all areas of Gangnam 3-gu and Yongsan-gu. Although Gangnam 3-gu and Yongsan-gu are originally places with high public for power, the fact that even these areas cause policy confusion seems to have affected public sentiment in Seoul as a whole.
Meanwhile, President Lee's strength was more prominent in Gyeonggi Province, the traditional Democratic Party's stronghold. President Lee acquired additional Icheon, Yongin Suji, and Pocheon compared to the last presidential election in Gyeonggi-do, and took control of all six regions except Gwacheon, Seongnam Bundang, Yeoju, Yangpyeong, Gapyeong, and Yeoncheon that candidate Kim took.
Incheon, which was tied at 5-5 during the last presidential election, created an 8-2 composition this time when President Lee took away Dong-gu, Michuhol-gu, and Yeonsu-gu. Candidate Kim only conquered the two areas of Ganghwa and Ongjin.
Such a reversal in the Seoul metropolitan area had a decisive effect on President Lee's victory in the presidential election. President Lee won a total of 8.97 million votes (3.11 million in Seoul, 4.82 million in Gyeonggi Province, and 1.04 million in Incheon) in the Seoul metropolitan area, winning about 680,000 more votes than the last presidential election. President Lee secured an additional 1.14 million votes compared to the last presidential election, ing for 60% of the votes in the Seoul metropolitan area.
On the contrary, candidate Kim received about 7.02 million votes in the Seoul metropolitan area, which lost about 1.07 million votes compared to about 8.09 million votes that former President Yoon won in the last presidential election. In other words, the base of Ulsan City (about 1.09 million) has flown away in the metropolitan area alone. Candidate Kim blew a total of 2 million votes compared to the last presidential election, of which 54% of the votes were flown from the metropolitan area.
[Reporter Ahn Jung Hoon / Reporter Wi Jihye]
