Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, said Monday, one day ahead of the June 3 local elections, that "this election is not about choosing a single Seoul mayor, but about empowering President Lee Jae-myung." Regarding the "five allegations" raised by People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon, Jung dismissed them as "typical negative campaigning."
Jung made the remarks at a joint press conference held at the Democratic Party leader's office in the National Assembly, alongside 25 candidates running for Seoul district chief positions. "Through your vote, please help Seoul support efforts to protect the lives of citizens and allow the Republic of Korea to leap forward once again," he said.
"Changes in government must translate into changes in citizens' lives, policies that revive livelihoods must reach every neighborhood, and changes in the Republic of Korea must become changes in Seoul," he said, urging voters to turn out. "Only your vote can complete the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration and transform Seoul."
Responding to Oh's call for "checks and balances," Jung said, "The opposition party has done this every time at the end of an election, but we will never be fooled again." He emphasized, "Citizens see through this pattern of repeatedly making mistakes and then kneeling, apologizing and pleading for support only when elections come around. In this election, judgment awaits Oh's incompetence, irresponsibility, and complacency."
Jung, a former district chief, also made clear his intention to redefine the relationship between the city and its districts. "The current relationship between the districts and the city has not improved at all since the start of popular elections," he said. "Despite the excellent capabilities of each district office, their roles and authority remain limited."
He added, "You can now look forward to a Seoul where each district exists not merely as part of Seoul, but as a city in its own right."
