Jeong calls Oh a throwback to Lee, Park era; Oh says Democratic rival falls short of voters' expectations
Jeong Won-o, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, labeled former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye "forces of the past" as they stepped up their campaign appearances Monday, and said People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon was no different. Oh fired back, calling Jeong "unqualified."
Speaking at a press conference at Seoul Station titled "An Appeal to the Citizens of Seoul," Jeong said the PPP was "summoning the past again now that the election is turning against them." He said the shadows of former presidents Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye and Yoon Suk Yeol — "forces of the past who have already faced the public's judgment" — were once again moving to the fore. "Everyone knows they are the forces that deepened the Korea discount," he said. "The nation's standing was shaken, markets lost confidence, and the country's competitiveness weakened."
Jeong said Oh, who had called those figures back into the spotlight, was no different from them. "Over the past 10 years, housing worries have grown, commutes are still a burden, household finances are stretched thin, and Seoul has become less safe," he said. He also challenged Oh's pledge to convey public sentiment at Cabinet meetings, noting that Oh had skipped 54 of 56 Cabinet meetings since the Lee Jae Myung administration took office. "Having voluntarily given up the chance to speak for Seoul residents' lives, is he now trying to use Cabinet meetings as a stage for political battles?" Jeong said.
Oh dismissed the attack. "This is no time for wordplay about who represents the past and who represents the future," he said.
Speaking to reporters near Wolgok Station in Seongbuk-gu, Oh said Seoul residents "do not entrust their city to an unqualified, underprepared candidate." He said Jeong had failed to meet citizens' expectations throughout the roughly month-long campaign. Oh added that even Democratic Party supporters who had wanted to back Jeong were likely having second thoughts after watching him repeatedly dodge debates. "I think supporters of his own party's candidate may have had their pride wounded," he said.
On the former presidents' prominent role on the campaign trail, Oh said the division of roles was "being carried out very strategically." He suggested Jeong's criticism reflected "anxiety over fluctuating approval ratings." Oh also reiterated his position that the shrinking supply of jeonse and monthly rent housing and relentless price increases were the direct result of flawed policies under the Lee Jae Myung administration, and pledged to push for corrections at the first Cabinet meeting he attends.
cook@heraldcorp.com
