As the June 3 local elections approach in about ten days, candidates are intensifying their efforts to win voter support. While it is encouraging to see candidates actively campaigning, this election is notably marked by a focus on negative campaigning rather than concrete promises.
In key battlegrounds like Seoul and Busan, often referred to as the heart of local elections, various forms of disparagement against opponents are emerging. Candidates are prioritizing allegations and attacks on their rivals over presenting policies to voters, leading to increased voter fatigue.
Seoul stands out as a prominent battleground, with both major parties declaring their commitment to winning the city. The People Power Party is targeting Jung Won-oh's personal controversies, starting with the 'Cancun trip scandal' revealed by lawmaker Kim Jae-seop, while the Democratic Party counters by highlighting Oh Se-hoon’s administration over the past four years.
Tensions escalated when Jung refused to answer questions regarding various personal controversies and opted out of additional debates. Meanwhile, Oh faced scrutiny over allegations of missing rebar in the GTX-A line and other issues, resulting in a barrage of attacks from both camps.
The central party leadership of both candidates has also joined the fray, turning this into a broader political battle.
On May 21, as the official campaign period began, both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party launched aggressive rhetoric against their opponents, signaling the start of a serious battle for public opinion.
The Democratic Party criticized Oh for failing to provide a clear explanation regarding the recent allegations of missing rebar, stating, "Oh does not deserve to campaign until he kneels and apologizes to the citizens."
In response, the People Power Party dismissed Jung's claims of intentional concealment of the rebar issue as a third conspiracy theory, akin to past controversies like mad cow disease and THAAD, urging, "Stop the petty shadow boxing and come to the debate stage for a serious judgment."
Previously, on May 20, Democratic Party Secretary General Cho Seung-rae and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk each targeted Oh and Jung, respectively, labeling them as "incompetent and irresponsible candidates" and questioning Jung's moral integrity.
In the competitive Busan mayoral race, where both parties aim to reclaim and defend their positions, negative campaigning has also intensified.
During a public debate on May 18, Democratic candidate Jeon Jae-soo and People Power Party candidate Park Hyung-jun exchanged barbs over allegations of receiving money from the Unification Church and the LCT price speculation controversy.
When Park brought up Jeon's alleged ties to the Unification Church, Jeon defended himself by stating, "The results came from a thorough investigation," while also suggesting that many believe he cannot fulfill his promise to sell LCT due to price speculation.
Park countered, asking, "How can you know about price speculation if you haven't sold it?" leading to a back-and-forth exchange between the two candidates.
In another battleground, Incheon, the debate over allegations of hidden virtual assets by People Power Party candidate Yoo Jeong-bok has sparked heated exchanges, signaling the start of a nationwide political conflict.
Democratic candidate Park Chan-dae and his party have called for Yoo to provide a thorough explanation and for immediate investigations, while Yoo's camp has hinted at legal action in response.
The barrage of allegations and attacks is a familiar scene for voters who have witnessed such tactics for years. However, if candidates continue to focus on undermining their opponents rather than presenting concrete promises, voters may ultimately withdraw their support and valuable votes. It is hoped that candidates in this local election will be evaluated based on their policies rather than their attacks.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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