Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, has pledged to issue an additional 2.5 trillion won in local love gift certificates. He also intensified his criticism of Oh Se-hoon, the candidate from the People Power Party, regarding his debate stance and the 'Garden of Gratitude'.
At a press conference held on the morning of May 15 at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Jung stated, "Local love gift certificates are the most effective livelihood policy to alleviate citizens' living costs and boost sales in local businesses."
Jung criticized the reduction in support during the administration of former President Yoon Suk-yeol and under Oh Se-hoon's tenure as mayor. He noted, "The Yoon administration has cut national funding for local love gift certificates and plans to halt it in 2024," adding that "Mayor Oh has only provided matching support for special issues like delivery and online sales since last year."
He plans to expand the purchase and holding limits for local love gift certificates and increase the discount rate to 10%, the same as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding for this initiative is expected to come from a supplementary budget. Jung explained, "I will discuss this with newly elected city council members and during the transition period after taking office," adding that discussions with candidates for district mayor positions are already underway.
Regarding recent polling showing a close race with Oh, Jung remarked, "The Seoul election is a tight contest." He stated, "Regardless of my approval ratings, the Seoul election is competitive, with some areas showing significant differences and others being very close."
He criticized Oh's recent proposal for additional joint debates, saying, "It is more problematic that Oh changes his stance based on the situation rather than the debates themselves." Jung pointed out, "A month ago, Oh said, 'TV debates are not everything' and refused to debate his opponents in the primary. It is unreliable to frame it differently now that circumstances have changed. I hope he reflects on his own statements."
Additionally, regarding the controversy surrounding the Garden of Gratitude, Jung indicated that he is considering relocating the sculpture. He stated, "The intention to express gratitude to the 22 UN participating countries is appropriate," but added, "The current location lacks contextual significance. I will consult with citizens about relocating it to the War Memorial in Yongsan."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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