Trailing Minor Opposition Candidates... Emphasizing Promises and Checks to Say "Please Notice Me"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Minor candidates from the People Power Party are actively working to break the opposition's Seoul mayoral by-election structure, which has solidified as the so-called 'An-Oh-Na (Ahn Cheol-soo, Oh Se-hoon, Na Kyung-won).' They are revealing their value by announcing pledges first or targeting major candidates.

As of the 14th, there are a total of 10 candidates from the People Power Party running for the Seoul mayoral by-election. Including Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People Party outside the party, the opposition alone has 11 candidates. Besides 'An-Oh-Na,' former lawmakers Lee Hye-hoon, Kim Seon-dong, Oh Shin-hwan, Lee Jong-gu, Seocho District Mayor Cho Eun-hee, former Songpa District Mayor Park Chun-hee, Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, and lawyer Kim Jeong-gi are also running.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Those with relatively low name recognition are emphasizing policy competition by releasing pledges earlier than major candidates. Former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan announced the 'Seoul City COVID-19 Business Loss Compensation System' as his first pledge. This plan aims to support self-employed and small business owners affected by COVID-19 with up to 5 million won. Former lawmaker Kim Seon-dong presented a vision to supply 800,000 homes over 10 years by providing 'half-price jeonse newlywed housing' through urban maintenance projects such as reconstruction and redevelopment.

District Mayor Cho Eun-hee posted on her Facebook that "It is unwise to maintain urban infrastructure such as housing and transportation solely with taxes," and proposed real estate measures stating, "We must promote private development through the three-dimensionalization of the Gyeongbu Expressway, undergrounding and three-dimensionalization of the Gyeongbu Line railway and Subway Line 2, and drastically improve urban infrastructure with development profit recovery funds."

On the 12th, Oh Shin-hwan, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayoral primary, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall, announcing his pledge regarding the government's business regulation measures for small business owners due to COVID-19. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

They are also proactively participating in relay meetings hosted by the party's young members. Former lawmaker Oh started on the 12th, followed by former lawmaker Kim on this day, and a meeting targeting Professor Kim Geun-sik will be held on the 19th. Former District Mayor Park Chun-hee and former lawmaker Lee Jong-gu will give lectures on "How to win the Seoul mayoral election" at the Mapo Forum led by former lawmaker Kim Moo-sung this afternoon.

Some are asserting their presence by checking leading candidates. Former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan targeted the so-called 'An-Oh-Na' on BBS Radio, saying, "Regardless of party, the person currently considered the frontrunner played a supporting role in the emergence of former Mayor Park Won-soon 10 years ago," and criticized, "We should talk about Seoul's future, but going back to the past is not desirable for citizens' lives."

Professor Kim Geun-sik lamented, "The opposition's candidate selection has deteriorated into a unification tug-of-war among well-known established politicians," adding, "It is distorted by competition only among old-fashioned established politicians, blocking the emergence of newcomers." District Mayor Cho Eun-hee also criticized Ahn's recent actions, saying, "Did he run for Seoul mayor or for president?" She continued, "Didn't he say he would abandon vested interests and participate in fair and heated debates and competition?" and sharply stated, "He should not push for unification by calculating numbers."

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