Kim Jong-in: "Make 'Capital Relocation' a Pledge in Next April's Seoul Mayoral Election"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, emphasized regarding the ruling party's push for the 'administrative capital relocation,' "In the Seoul mayoral by-election on April 7 next year, the Democratic Party of Korea should first confirm the will of Seoul citizens by pledging the capital relocation."

On the 27th, at the United Future Party Emergency Committee meeting, Chairman Kim said, "Because they couldn't suppress real estate speculation, they started discussing the capital relocation, and now they say Seoul is a vulgar place and the capital must be moved."

This was a criticism of Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for his remark calling Seoul "vulgar." On the same day, the United Future Party displayed a backdrop banner with the phrase "Beautiful Capital, Seoul's Questionable First Defeat."

Chairman Kim said, "The government has presented no grounds for the capital relocation, and while the political circles are discussing it, the party leader says it is a constitutional issue, and the floor leader says it can be moved by ordinary law, causing confusion among the public." He added, "Leader Lee compared the Seine River in Paris with the Han River, saying Paris has many historic buildings, but Seoul's Han River has only apartments, making it a target for speculation, thus portraying Seoul as a lowly city. This idea stems from Leader Lee's failure to properly recognize the city's development process."

He said, "I don't know why the Democratic Party has suddenly ignited the issue of capital relocation recently," and added, "If they have a firm intention regarding the capital relocation, I urge the Democratic Party to pledge it in the Seoul mayoral by-election on April 7 next year and first confirm the will of Seoul citizens."

Regarding the prosecution reform issue, Chairman Kim said, "There was a report that a certain senior official of the prosecution conveyed false information during the process of KBS's erroneous report, which makes me question whether the prosecution is functioning properly," and added, "I hope the president clearly states his position on what kind of prosecution reform is being pursued to establish a proper image of the prosecution."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.