Rival parties launched all-out campaigns Saturday, the final weekend before the June 3 local elections, to win over voters in the Seoul mayoral race, the most closely watched contest. Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, targeted the incumbent People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon as suffering from "safety complacency," pushing for a "mayoral change." Oh fiercely attacked the government and the ruling party for pursuing flawed housing policies. The Seoul Economic Daily accompanied them on the campaign trail and listened to citizens' voices.
"We must replace the safety-complacent Seoul mayor. I will become a mayor who safely supports citizens' daily lives."
Near Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, on Saturday, Jung repeatedly raised his voice on the campaign podium despite the scorching weather above 30 degrees Celsius. Jung, who has been described as "gentle," continued his remarks while clenching his fists and stretching his hands high. Some 200 supporters gathered at the site enthusiastically responded by chanting "Jung Won-oh."
Jung showed an unusually agitated demeanor as he raised the issue of defective construction at Samseong Station of the Great Train Express (GTX). "Citizens are anxious as they recall the Sampoong Department Store collapse while watching the GTX defective construction case, but Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is showing an irresponsible attitude, saying 'no accident has occurred,'" he said. "The mayor's highest virtue is protecting citizens' lives and safety, but he is acting as if it were someone else's business."
Jung also emphasized that he is a "practical, qualified candidate" who can swiftly resolve Seoul's pending issues through close coordination with the government. Unlike Oh, who is at odds with the government, he can work in step with the central government to speedily address Seoul's major issues such as housing and transportation, he explained. "If a mayor who throws roadblocks holds back the president, the Republic of Korea, which is being normalized, will face greater difficulties," Jung said. "I will speak harshly from Seoul's perspective when needed, but fundamentally, only by working hand in hand can both Seoul and the people be happy."
In his Yangcheon-gu campaign that day, Jung chose to canvass on foot rather than use a campaign vehicle. The aim was to communicate directly with citizens and listen to their opinions on Seoul city administration. To a citizen's question of "what will you do as the person in charge after winning," Jung answered, "I will form a task force (TF) together with the Seoul city government and Yangcheon-gu Office for the Mokdong area redevelopment."
Jung carried out a grueling schedule divided into minute-by-minute segments, starting with attending Sunday service at Muhak Church in Seongdong-gu, where he serves as a senior deacon, and continuing late into the evening. After his morning walking campaign in Yangcheon-gu, he canvassed Guro-gu, Gangdong-gu, Songpa-gu, Seodaemun-gu and other parts of Seoul in the afternoon, appealing for support. Jung's camp said, "We will engage in a final all-out campaign with 'one more step, campaigning to the end' until midnight on June 2, when the official campaign period for the June 3 local elections ends."
Public sentiment toward Jung was a mix of expectations and caution. Park, 66, a Seongdong-gu resident, said, "After Jung took office as district mayor, Seongdong-gu has undergone tremendous transformation. He is a figure whose administrative capability has already been sufficiently verified." On the other hand, Kim, an office worker in his 30s whom we met near Gocheok Dome, said, "In terms of political weight to be responsible for Seoul, a city of 10 million, there is still something lacking."
Meanwhile, Woo Hyung-chan, the Democratic Party's candidate for Yangcheon-gu district mayor, who campaigned with Jung, sparked controversy by pressuring a child to "give a kiss." Woo eventually said, "It was my fault that adults treated a child from a one-sided perspective while claiming to match children's eye level. I apologize to the child and parents who suffered emotional hurt and discomfort because of this."
"Withdrawing the prosecution against President Lee Jae-myung is the prelude to a new caste-based class society and the signal of this regime's self-destruction."
In front of Amsa General Market in Gangdong-gu, Seoul on Saturday, three days before the June 3 local elections, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayor candidate, climbed onto a campaign vehicle amid sweltering heat above 30 degrees Celsius, between supporters waving red towels and citizens passing through the market. Perhaps due to recent grueling campaign schedules, his voice was somewhat hoarse, but his message highlighting the regime checks-and-balances argument by taking direct aim at the controversy over withdrawing prosecution against President Lee was sharp.
Oh criticized the dominant ruling party's unilateral push, saying, "Creating a special prosecutor law that allows the withdrawal of prosecution right before the election is a declaration of war against the people." He raised his voice, saying, "Following their seizure of the legislative and executive branches, I will surely stop in Seoul this runaway power that seeks to neutralize even the judicial system." When he emphasized, "I will protect democratic values and restore balance," applause and chants of "Oh Se-hoon" erupted at the scene.
He also addressed real estate issues, saying, "Due to flawed housing policies, jeonse and monthly rents have soared, making ordinary people's lives even more difficult. Immediately upon election, I will attend the Cabinet meeting and strongly demand measures to normalize the market, including easing relocation loan regulations and raising floor area ratios for private redevelopment projects."
Toward his rival Jung, Oh said, "A candidate chosen by the president cannot conduct independent city administration. Oh Se-hoon is the only candidate who can stop the one-way push of massive power and protect citizens' rights and interests."
After the morning campaign, Oh moved to the plaza in front of Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to court young voters. That day, he continued his so-called "88-hour unlimited responsibility campaign," visiting Achasan in succession, followed by Amsa Market, Jamsil Baseball Stadium and Yeongdeungpo Times Square.
With the election imminent, public sentiment on the ground was sharply divided. Kim, 32, an office worker met at Amsa Market, said, "The government keeps adding regulations claiming it will rein in housing prices, but I'm worried the same situation as during the Moon Jae-in administration may repeat. If the government is the Democratic Party and the Seoul city government is also the Democratic Party, who will provide checks and balances?"
On the other hand, voices calling for regime stability and a change in city administration were also abundant. Yoon, 45, a self-employed business owner met near Jamsil Baseball Stadium, said, "To swiftly resolve Seoul's pending issues, we need a mayor who can work in step with the central government. I think we should empower a candidate aligned with the ruling party who can cooperate with the government."
