"We must replace the safety-indifferent Seoul mayor. I will be a mayor who safely supports citizens' daily lives."
Near Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul on May 31, despite scorching weather exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Seoul mayor, repeatedly raised his voice from the campaign stage. The atmosphere surrounding Jung, who had long been described as "soft-spoken," was markedly different. As he clenched his fists and stretched his hands high while continuing his remarks, applause and cheers erupted from below the stage. Roughly 200 supporters gathered at the scene chanted "Jung Won-oh" in enthusiastic response.
Jung showed an unusually impassioned demeanor, particularly when raising the issue of defective construction of the Greater Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX) at Samseong Station. "Citizens are anxious as they recall the Sampoong Department Store collapse when they see the GTX defective construction case, but Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is showing an irresponsible attitude, saying 'no accident has even occurred,'" he said. "The top virtue of a mayor is protecting citizens' lives and safety, but (People Power Party Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon) is consistently acting as if it were someone else's problem," he added sharply.
Jung also emphasized that he is a "pragmatic right person" who can swiftly resolve Seoul's pending issues through close cooperation with the central government. Unlike candidate Oh, who is at odds with the government, Jung argued that he can keep pace with the central government to expeditiously address major Seoul issues such as housing and transportation. "If a mayor who throws cold water holds back the president, it will become even harder for a Republic of Korea that is being normalized," Jung said. "I will make harsh comments from Seoul's standpoint, but fundamentally, only when we move in step will both Seoul and the public be happy."
His citizen-friendly communication approach also stood out. At a campaign stop in Yangcheon-gu that morning, Jung opted for a walking tour rather than a campaign vehicle. The aim was to communicate directly with citizens and listen to their views on Seoul city administration. When a Yangcheon-gu resident asked, "What will you do as the responsible official after being elected?" Jung replied, "I will set up a task force (TF) involving the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Yangcheon-gu Office for the redevelopment of the Mok-dong area."
That day, Jung carried out a tightly scheduled minute-by-minute campaign from morning until late evening, beginning with attending Sunday service at Muhak Church in Seongdong-gu, where he serves as an ordained deacon. Following the walking tour in Yangcheon-gu in the morning, he canvassed across Seoul in the afternoon — including Guro-gu, Gangdong-gu, Songpa-gu and Seodaemun-gu — appealing for support. Jung's campaign said it would mount an all-out final push through "One More Step, Campaigning to the End" until midnight on June 2, when official campaigning for the June 3 local elections ends.
Park, 66, a Seongdong-gu resident, expressed expectations, saying, "After Jung took office as district chief, the area underwent a sea change." However, Kim, an office worker in his 30s whom the reporter met near Gocheok Dome, said, "In terms of political weight, there is still something to be desired."
Meanwhile, a controversy erupted that Woo Hyung-chan, the Yangcheon-gu chief candidate who accompanied Jung's campaign that day, forced a kiss on a child by saying, "Give me a kiss." Woo eventually apologized, saying, "It was my mistake."
