Candidates in the People Power Party (PPP) primary for Seoul mayor clashed in their first debate, competing for a ticket to the general election ahead of the June 3 local elections.
PPP candidates Oh Se-hoon, Park Su-min, and Yoon Hee-suk faced off in a heated "Seoul Mayor Primary Vision Debate" held at the TV Chosun studio in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Saturday. The candidates diverged from the very first question — an OX (yes-or-no) question asking whether a candidate who loses the Seoul mayoral race could later run for the party leadership.
Only Oh, the incumbent Seoul mayor, answered "X" (no), while Park and Yoon chose "O" (yes). "I don't think the public would want someone who lost the Seoul mayoral election to then challenge for the party leadership," Oh said.
"I will defend the Seoul mayor post as if my life depends on it," he added. "We absolutely cannot hand over the Seoul mayorship to the Democratic Party, which is expected to bring a 'Park Won-soon Season 2.' I will stake my final political resolve on this."
Yoon attacked in response: "Oh already ran for president last year, so this is an extremely hollow statement." Park said, "The party has run aground and conservative rebuilding is needed — anyone should mount a full-force challenge toward that end."
When asked which of the two — current PPP Chairman Chang Dong-hyuk or former chairman Han Dong-hoon, who was expelled from the party — they would request campaign support from if they could only choose one, all three candidates chose Chang. Oh explained, "He must be thinking about how to regain the lost trust and affection of the people, and I believe he will act on it. In that sense, I would very much like to have Chairman Chang by my side." Park said, "We shouldn't put pressure only on Chairman Chang — the candidate should expand their reach on their own."
Yoon argued, "Once this nomination process wraps up, Chairman Chang should declare his willingness to 'serve from the lowest rank' as a gesture toward resolving the party's turmoil and low approval ratings."
There was also a strong atmosphere of targeting Oh, the frontrunner. Yoon said, "Oh focuses too much on things like city competitiveness indexes, and people say his administration is all about superficial appearances. How is the Han River Bus any different from what President Lee Jae-myung calls 'basic welfare'? Isn't it just 'basic sightseeing'?" Park took aim as well: "Oh recently refused to submit his nomination application. It was like a hand attacking its own body — as someone who should be united with the party, was that a rational decision? You shouldn't blame your own household."