The ruling and opposition parties are intensifying their fight over key battlegrounds ahead of the June 3 local elections. The Democratic Party has nominated Jung Won-oh, a former Seongdong District chief, for Seoul mayor and Jeon Jae-soo, a former oceans and fisheries minister, for Busan mayor, highlighting an image of candidates who “get things done.” The People Power Party, meanwhile, is leaning on incumbency advantages and the issue of a special counsel tied to canceling indictments to rally conservative voters.
Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sung-joon, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-seop, Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker Shin Jang-sik and New Reform Party lawmaker Cheon Ha-ram appeared Tuesday on CBS Radio’s “Park Seong-tae’s News Show,” trading barbs over the June 3 local elections and by-elections in contested districts.
Criticism focused first on Jung, the Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate. Kim said the narrowing gap in polls reflects Jung’s slipping support rather than a consolidation of conservative voters, calling Jung’s view of Seoul “inexperienced” and “amateurish.” He said Jung’s “competent” image is deflating under scrutiny and argued that, with the indictment-cancellation issue added, “the Democratic Party will have a very hard time in Seoul.”
Cheon also said Jung’s numbers in Seoul have stalled despite high presidential approval ratings, adding that questions remain about Jung, including controversy over overseas trips.
Park pushed back, saying the election should test who can do the job. He said Oh “has done nothing,” asking what Oh accomplished during four terms.
The Busan mayoral race also drew sharp exchanges. Park said Jeon has competitiveness as a “new product,” describing the contest as a clash between Jeon as a symbolic figure and People Power Party candidate Park Hyung-joon as an “old-era” figure.
Kim countered that Jeon’s “Cartier” legal risk and a special counsel on allegedly fabricated indictments have given conservative voters a reason to turn out, saying the Busan race has “shifted a lot” thanks to the indictment-cancellation issue.
Cheon added that Jeon could face growing difficulty, citing a case in which Jeon’s aide became a defendant on allegations of destroying evidence.
In Pyeongtaek-eul, Gyeonggi Province, where multiple candidates are competing, the lawmakers differed on whether consolidation would occur.
Kim said conflict in Pyeongtaek-eul between candidate Kim Yong-nam of the “new Lee Jae-myung” camp and Cho Kuk’s camp aligned with Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in would erupt, predicting People Power Party candidate Yoo Eui-dong would win.
Shin said Yoo, despite serving three terms, failed to secure what he promised with the government and has no achievements beyond being “a Pyeongtaek person,” predicting a two-way race between Kim and Cho.
Cheon said support for the president would not transfer directly to Cho and predicted that, over time, votes would move to Kim.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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