Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
55% of Koreans negative about incorporating Gimpo into Seoul: survey
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, left, and Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo shake hands at Seoul City Hall, Monday, before discussing the integration of Gimpo into Seoul. Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
Over half of all Koreans have negative sentiments regarding the proposed incorporation of Gimpo City into Seoul, according to a recent Gallup survey, Friday.
The survey, conducted from Tuesday to Thursday, sought the opinions of 1,001 voters nationwide on the potential merging of the Gyeonggi Province city, with a population of about 490,000, into the capital city.
In the survey, 55 percent of respondents expressed negative views toward the integration. In contrast, only 24 percent responded positively, while 21 percent of respondents chose to withhold their opinions on the matter.
The survey came as the ruling People Power Party has put forth the contentious proposal on Seoul's annexation of Gimpo.
The Gimpo municipal government appears to be in favor of becoming part of Seoul, but the proposal also faces criticism that the ruling party is pushing for the move in a bid to bolster voter support ahead of the general elections slated for next April.
By region, negative sentiments were noticeably observed in the greater Seoul region that also includes Incheon Metropolitan City and Gyeonggi Province, as 57 percent of the respondents in Seoul and 59 percent in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province expressed concerns. Positive responses in these regions were limited to 24 percent.
Even in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province, the traditional strongholds of the ruling party, negative opinions reached as high as 48 percent, compared to 25 percent of those in favor.
By age, opposition to the proposed minicipal annexation was most pronounced among respondents in their 40s, with 75 percent expressing concerns and only 10 percent in favor.
Other age groups, including those in their 30s, 50s and 60s, also registered higher negative sentiments compared to positive ones.
The survey also revealed that among supporters of the ruling party, 41 percent were in favor of the incorporation, while 32 percent were opposed.
In contrast, among backers of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, 80 percent expressed opposition, with only 10 percent supporting the proposal.