The second debate among Democratic Party of Korea preliminary candidates for Seoul mayor again saw Jeon Hyun-heui and Park Ju-min jointly attacking frontrunner Jeong Won-o over housing policy pledges and other issues. With Jeong maintaining a lead in polls, both candidates demanded additional televised debates, arguing "further vetting is needed."
Regarding Jeong's "affordable private apartment" pledge, Jeon criticized that "there is a practical question of whether reconstruction cooperative members in Seoul would actually opt for affordable apartments, and private apartments take more than 10 years." She called it "an 'affordable in name only' plan that lacks feasibility."
Park also pressed, asking "if the plan is to sell units that the public sector could retain and rent out, doesn't that contradict President Lee Jae-myung's philosophy and the Democratic Party's philosophy?" He also took aim at Jeong's pledge to supply 23,000 public rental housing units during his term. "The total public rental volume that Mayor Oh Se-hoon pledged to supply exceeds 24,000 units for 2026 alone. This means supplying less over a four-year term than what Mayor Oh pledged to supply in a single year," Park said.
The debate also featured a question about where candidates would hold the first "Seoul Singing Contest" and what song they would sing as mayor. Jeon picked Songhyeon Park in Jongno-gu and BTS's "SWIM," and promoted her pledge to build a 50,000-seat "Seoul Dome Arena."
Park chose Seoul Innovation Park in Eunpyeong-gu and "Ramyeon and Briquet," a song from the original soundtrack of the animated series "Baby Dinosaur Dooly." He explained, "People say I look like the character Micol from Baby Dinosaur Dooly, so everywhere I go, they ask me to sing this song."
Jeong answered Gwanghwamun and Park Sang-cheol's "Unconditionally," adding, "Over the past 12 years, whenever Seongdong-gu residents called, I rushed to them anytime and shared whatever was happening." He continued, "Going forward, I will serve 10 million citizens as the true owners of governance, rush to wherever they call, solve problems, and share both joy and sorrow together."
Having completed two debates, the candidates will face the main primary from July 7 to 9. In the main primary, where party member votes and public opinion polls each account for 50 percent, a runoff between the top two candidates will be held from July 17 to 19 if no candidate wins a majority.
Immediately after the debate, Park appealed for support on social media ahead of the main primary. "Make a runoff happen. To win decisively in the general election, we need fiercer vetting than now," Park said. "Choosing Park Ju-min in the main primary creates a runoff and produces a stronger candidate."
Jeon also wrote, "Now is the time to choose. Jeon Hyun-heui, the person vetted by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, has already completed her vetting." She added, "Choose Jeon Hyun-heui, the true sure-win candidate who will lead the Democratic Party to victory."