The leader of the main opposition party vowed Wednesday to attract investment from South Korea’s biggest conglomerate Samsung Electronics in its traditional political stronghold, in a bid to gain back the party’s waning popularity ahead of the parliamentary election next Wednesday.

The Minjoo Party of Korea chairman Kim Chong-in pledged to invite the tech giant’s auto business for electric and autonomous cars, and create more than 20,000 jobs over five years in the nation’s southern city of Gwangju.

“The future car industry would breathe life into Gwangju,” said Kim in a press conference. The leader noted that talks are underway between the tech giant and its former executive Yang Hyang-ja, who is running as a Minjoo Party candidate in Seo-gu B, Gwangju to compete with the People’s Party cochairman Rep. Chun Jung-bae.

Kim’s ambitious pledge, however, was played down by the conglomerate.

There was “no specific discussion” of an investment plan with the party, said Samsung in a public statement.

“It is inappropriate to discuss a specific party’s election pledges,” the statement added.

Kim’s remarks came as part of efforts to address the main opposition party’s faltering popularity in the liberal base. Progressive votes are seen in various polls to be divided between the Minjoo Party and the People’s Party, the fledgling party whose key leadership consists of high-profile Jeolla natives, including Rep. Chun.

According to an opinion poll conducted by local broadcaster KBS on Tuesday, the People’s Party had the lead over the Minjoo Party in Gwangju. Among its eight constituencies, the People’s Party outperformed the Minjoo Party in seven.

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)