Jung Won-o, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, announced on May 21 that he would halt construction of the GTX-A express railway if elected. His opponent, Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party, criticized this stance, claiming it disregards the desires of citizens who want the project completed and would hinder the city's development.
During an appearance on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," Jung expressed concerns about the missing rebar in the GTX-A line at Samsung Station, stating, "If I become mayor, I will stop the construction for now. If it’s not safe, isn’t it just a house of cards?"
He emphasized the importance of a solid foundation, noting that the underground level five, where cracks have appeared, is crucial. "If that part is flawed, no matter how well the upper structure is built, it will lead to significant problems, and fixing it would require tearing everything down and starting over," he reiterated his commitment to halting the project.
In response to Jung's comments, Oh accused him of acting against the city's progress. On Facebook, Oh remarked, "He is just like former Mayor Park Won-soon, predicting a stagnant Seoul and a dark decade of lost opportunities."
Oh further criticized Jung for ignoring the urgent wishes of citizens in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area who are enduring inconveniences due to ongoing construction. He pointed out that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, under the Lee Jae-myung administration, conducted a trial operation of the GTX-A line for 17 days despite being aware of the rebar issue, asserting that there are no safety concerns. "We cannot entrust Seoul to Mr. Halt King," he concluded.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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