Ahead of the main primary for the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul mayoral candidacy, preliminary candidates Park Ju-min, Jeong Won-o and Jeon Hyun-hee presented core pledges spanning housing, transportation and welfare in a fiercely competitive final push. All three positioned themselves as the "optimal partner" to support the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration, appealing for voter support.
Jeong was the first to take the podium at the party's second joint debate held Thursday, highlighting his image as a stable administrator with 12 years of experience as Seongdong District mayor. He emphasized his capacity and experience to deliver key initiatives including building a 30-minute commuter city, supplying 140,000 public rental housing units by 2031 and creating three major startup clusters across Seoul.
"For me, the Seoul mayor's seat is not a stepping stone toward the presidency but a sturdy bridge for citizens," Jeong said. "Building on the growth of Seongsu-dong, I will create a Seoul where citizens are the owners and where no one begrudges their taxes."
Park presented a 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) "Great Leap Forward for Gangbuk" vision aimed at closing the gap between the Gangnam and Gangbuk areas. The plan includes establishing a bio cluster in the Gangbuk area and constructing a 50,000-seat super arena. "I will stabilize housing prices through swift redevelopment and reconstruction," Park said. "I will supply 40,000 half-price rental units for young people and 20,000 subscription-based housing units at the Yongsan rail yard site."
Jeon pledged a "Seoul-style basic society" encompassing basic income, basic loans and basic housing for young people, and promised to supply 100,000 half-price apartments in the Gangnam area. "There is a precedent of supplying 30-pyeong apartments in Gangnam at half price in the 200 million won range," Jeon said. "I will supply quarter-price apartments where the public owns the land and only the buildings are sold."
All three candidates intensified efforts to rally support, each claiming to be the "right person" to work hand-in-hand with President Lee Jae-myung. Jeong described himself as "the candidate recognized by a competent president as a competent mayor."
Park said, "I will faithfully implement the philosophy and policies of the Lee Jae-myung administration in Seoul and ensure that housing returns to being a foundation for life." Jeon appealed, "Don't look at Lee Jae-myung as president today — look at who stood with him during difficult and trying times."
The main primary for the Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidate runs from June 7 to 9. The result will reflect party member votes and public opinion polls at 50 percent each. If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff between the top two candidates will be held from June 17 to 19.