Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Thursday criticized Democratic Party of Korea Seoul mayoral candidate Jeong Won-oh, stating that "a 'demand-responsive mayor' who only handles immediate complaints cannot elevate Seoul to the next level amid rapidly changing times and global competition." The remarks continue Oh's offensive against Jeong ahead of the June 3 local elections.
In a Facebook post titled "The Seoul Mayor Must Prepare for the Future with a Pioneer Spirit," Oh took aim at Jeong's statement about being "a mayor who only does what citizens want."
"Taking care of citizens' daily lives and resolving immediate needs is the most basic duty—something any Seoul mayor must naturally do. Meticulously protecting citizens' daily lives has never left my hands for 24 hours," Oh said. "Administration that attends to the unseen aspects of transportation, welfare, safety, and living infrastructure is not a choice but a fundamental responsibility."
He then asked rhetorically, "But does the role of Seoul mayor end there?" Oh continued, "If we only chase what citizens want right now, we will miss the changes that are absolutely necessary for tomorrow. That's why we need the 'leadership of a pioneer' who opens new paths ahead, even at the cost of criticism."
"At first it may seem unfamiliar and face opposition, but over time it becomes the city's competitive edge," Oh said. "Candidate Jeong said he would 'make Seoul a G2 city,' but anyone can say nice things."
"But if his governing philosophy is to only cling to immediate demands, how can he make Seoul a G2 city? He needs to present concrete methods first—what industries to develop, what infrastructure to build, and what regulations to ease and how," Oh added. "A city can never leap forward with complaint-handling administration that lacks vision."
"Being mayor is not about winning popularity contests. It's about designing the city's future," Oh emphasized. "Seoul must be a city that leads, not one that follows. Even if this path is difficult, even if criticism follows, I will forge new paths for Seoul's future."
Earlier Thursday morning, Oh also criticized Jeong's cultural tourism vision on Facebook, writing that it had "only rhetoric and no details" and that Jeong "should compete fairly in the election with impactful proposals that can elevate Seoul's stature."
