Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has sharply criticized the controversy surrounding the GTX-A Samsung Station construction, calling it a "government-influenced election" orchestrated by the ruling party, the government, and the public broadcaster MBC.
On June 18, Mayor Oh posted on his Facebook page under the title "This is a government-influenced election," stating, "There is a chronic problem that recurs every time the Democratic Party is in power. Instead of conducting elections based on competence, they resort to outdated schemes and agitation to disrupt the electoral landscape, and this time is no different."
He referenced the controversy over the alleged omission of rebar in the GTX-A Samsung Station construction, criticizing MBC for framing the issue as if the Seoul City government had intentionally concealed and neglected the matter through 76 reports from May 15 to June 3.
"The Seoul City government has implemented a video recording management system at all construction sites since 2022, making organized concealment structurally impossible," he explained. "The Urban Infrastructure Headquarters confirmed reinforcement plans after receiving reports of construction errors last November, following reviews by the supervisory team and consultations with external experts."
Oh noted that according to the final reinforcement construction plan submitted by Hyundai Engineering & Construction, the structural performance after reinforcement exceeded the original design standards, and this information was shared with the Korea National Railway Authority and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
He also mentioned the results of an emergency safety inspection conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which concluded that the cracks in the underground fifth-floor slab were not directly related to the missing rebar and that there were no safety concerns. "This aligns with the judgment made by the Seoul City government after months of expert review," he asserted.
Furthermore, he stated, "Based on this assessment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport resumed non-stop test operations on the GTX-A Samsung Station segment, conducting a total of 94 test runs, during which there were no recommendations for a construction halt or additional issues raised to the Seoul City government."
However, he pointed out that as the election heated up, the Ministry's stance suddenly changed, stating, "After confirming safety and resuming test operations, they suddenly raised the possibility of halting construction, stirring public anxiety."
Oh specifically accused MBC of creating suspicion, while the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, aware of the lack of safety issues, exacerbated the controversy, and the Democratic Party held three parliamentary committee meetings during the election period to politicize the issue.
He claimed, "A triangular coalition of the ruling party, the government, and public broadcasting has been activated under the goal of a Democratic Party candidate's electoral victory. This is collusion between power and media and a government-influenced election."
Oh emphasized, "The victims of a government-influenced election are not specific candidates but the entire public. Acts of distortion and agitation that blind the eyes and ears of the people are an abuse of power that undermines the foundations of democracy."
He concluded, "I will firmly oppose any attempts to undermine the fairness of elections in the future, whether through direct intervention by power or collusion between power and media to distort public opinion."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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