Heokyeongyeong Pleased by 'Nakyeongyeong Controversy': "Established Politicians Will Become My Promoters"

"Other politicians try to imitate"
Criticism from some quarters over Na candidate's real estate pledge, calling it "Na Kyung-young?"
Candidate Oh Shin-hwan says "Wavering between hardline conservatism and populism"

Huh Kyung-young, Leader of the National Revolutionary Party. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Heo Kyung-young, leader of the National Revolutionary Party, evaluated the so-called 'Na Kyung-young' controversy among the People Power Party's preliminary candidates for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election as "falling into my Jeonbeop (strategy)." Na Kyung-won, a preliminary candidate of the People Power Party, previously announced pledges to support marriage, childbirth, and real estate loans, but some candidates from the same party criticized these as "absurd pledges that Heo Kyung-young might propose."

On the 6th, Heo shared a photo comparing his own pledges with Na's real estate pledge on his Facebook, saying, "Everyone, it's hard, right? You feel the necessity, right?"

He added, "Only now are other politicians trying hard to follow me," and self-assessed, "But they have fallen into my Jeolmok Jeonbeop (strategic trap)."

He also predicted, "Established politicians will become Heo Kyung-young's greatest promoters."

Na Kyung-won, the preliminary candidate for Seoul mayor from the People Power Party, announced the '7 Wonderful Real Estate Pledges' at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 5th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 5th, Na held a press conference at the National Assembly on real estate measures, stating, "We will support the dreams of youth and newlyweds," and announced, "For youth under 39 years old with an annual income below 70 million KRW, newlyweds within 7 years of marriage, prospective newlyweds, and households with children under 6 years old, we will fully support initial loan interest for 3 years."

She also promised, "If you get married, you receive 45 million KRW; if you add a child, an additional 45 million KRW; ultimately, if you become independent in Seoul, marry, and have a child, you can enjoy a total subsidy benefit of 117 million KRW."

However, some candidates from the same party criticized these announcements as "unrealistic pledges."

On the morning of the 8th, at the People Power Party Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul, Oh Shin-hwan, a candidate in the Seoul mayoral primary election, signed his name on his photo after completing the number drawing at the media day for the final primary election. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the 6th, Oh Shin-hwan, a preliminary candidate from the same party, wrote on his Facebook, "Is it Na Kyung-won or Na Kyung-young?" and pointed out, "Candidate Na says she will cut property tax, comprehensive real estate tax, and capital gains tax, while simultaneously supporting newlyweds who marry and have their first child with 117 million KRW."

He criticized, "Cutting taxes and increasing expenditures, even a rough calculation shows it will cost at least 5 trillion KRW?how do you plan to secure this budget?"

He added, "While low birthrate measures are good, you need to make realistic claims that make sense," and warned, "If you waver between hardline conservatism and populism, conservative politics will truly have no solution."

In contrast, Na responded, "I hope you carefully review the pledges and provide reasonable counterarguments," and said, "Launching attacks without properly reading is irresponsible."

Meanwhile, Heo declared his candidacy for this Seoul mayoral by-election on the 20th of last month. In the press release at that time, Heo pledged to implement a "dating public system" that gives 200,000 KRW monthly dating allowance to unmarried people, abolish the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and create a "Ministry of Marriage."

He also promised to introduce a "marriage public system" that provides 100 million KRW marriage allowance and 200 million KRW housing funds interest-free, cut Seoul city’s budget by 70%, and pay a national dividend of 1.5 million KRW monthly from age 18.

He emphasized, "I will not take the Seoul mayor’s salary and will personally cover the expected 10 billion KRW office expenses."

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