Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, struck back at allegations raised by his People Power Party rival Oh Se-hoon over Seongdong Future Jobs Co., saying sarcastically, "I'm grateful for the chance to promote a good project."
Speaking to reporters after a morning campaign greeting at Yeouido Station in Seoul on the 26th, Jung said, "Negative campaigning from the Oh camp is nothing new."
A day earlier, Oh's camp had raised "corruption cartel" allegations, claiming that figures close to Jung were placed at Seongdong Future Jobs Co., a company established with investment from Seongdong District during Jung's tenure as district mayor.
Jung first emphasized, "Future Jobs Co. was established with the aim of creating jobs for people in their 60s after retirement." He added, "It is currently creating nearly 300 jobs. The response has been positive and the project has produced strong results."
He continued, "Because it is a public-interest project, Seongdong District Office invested 70% and the private sector 30%. For six years there was investment without returns, and dividends were distributed for the first time only after six years. The initial distribution was 10%, and after a People Power Party district councilor claimed the dividend was too small, it was raised by 5% the following year, resulting in a 15% dividend over eight years. In terms of annual return, that comes to less than 2%."
He went on, "(The Oh camp's argument) is an insult to those who invested in a good cause from a public-interest perspective without any dividends for six years. I'm grateful that, through their problem-raising, they have helped promote a good project."
On the issue of delays in the Haengdang District 7 redevelopment project, Jung said, "It is not right to blow this out of proportion." He pointed out, "This problem arose because the Seoul Metropolitan Government unilaterally demanded a contribution in the form of a daycare center. Without any self-reflection, pinning the blame solely on the district office is itself the problem."
