The Democratic Party emphasized on May 22 that the upcoming June 3 local elections are crucial for supporting the administration of President Lee Jae-myung and judging the ineffective local governments of the People Power Party. They also questioned why candidates Oh Se-hoon and Kim Du-gyeom, who have recently faced allegations of missing rebar and involvement in a private organization, are so vocal in their campaigns.
During a press briefing at the National Assembly, Secretary General Cho Seung-rae stated, "It has already been two days since the official election campaign began. As the local elections progress, there are inquiries about the nature of this election." He explained, "This election is taking place in the first year of President Lee Jae-myung's administration. It holds significance in terms of how we will support the president's governance from the central government down to the local level."
Cho added, "While the first political judgment against insurrection forces was made during the last presidential election, we must now carry out a secondary judgment through these local elections. In the previous local elections, 12 regional heads from the People Power Party were elected. This election also serves to judge the ineffective local leaders from the People Power Party who only engage in negative campaigning."
He continued to express concerns regarding Oh and Kim, who have been embroiled in controversies over the recent allegations of missing rebar in the GTX-A project and accusations of profiting through a private organization. Cho criticized Oh's response to the rebar allegations, stating, "This is a clear example of incompetence, showing that he is neglecting critical municipal management duties as the mayor of Seoul. His complacent attitude, suggesting that 'nothing has happened, so it’s not a concern,' is even more serious."
Cho emphasized that preparing for various disasters is one of the primary responsibilities of local leaders, questioning, "How can Oh be so vocal when he is failing to fulfill such an important duty?"
Regarding Kim, who faces allegations of assaulting a journalist, Cho stated, "He lacks the qualifications to hold public office. Public officials should not evade questions posed by the media on behalf of the public. Kim must clearly apologize for the violent incident."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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