Park Young-sun and Woo Sang-ho Face Off Over 'Democratic Party-Style Promises' Ahead of '100-Minute Debate'

Rep. Woo: "Helping the Common People Is a Policy True to the Democratic Party"
Former Minister Park's Side: "We Will Debate Fully on TV Debate"

Park Young-sun (right) and Woo Sang-ho, preliminary candidates for Seoul mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea, are making heart shapes with their hands together and taking a commemorative photo before the youth startup and job meeting held on the 8th at 'Geuneul,' a pure complex art space in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Park Young-sun, former Minister of SMEs and Startups, and Woo Sang-ho, Democratic Party lawmaker, both running as preliminary candidates for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, engaged in a war of nerves. The two candidates are scheduled to debate various political issues on MBC's '100-Minute Debate.'

Earlier, on the 14th, Woo criticized Park, pointing out that her pledges "lack concreteness," opening the salvo.

At the 'Walking Again Seoul - 21-Minute Compact City Experience' event held around Dunchon Library in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, Woo said, "Park's 21-minute city pledge is being presented as a panacea, but it is hard to see it as a Democratic Party-like pledge."

He continued, "Until now, with only about two weeks left before the Democratic Party primary, candidate Park Young-sun has no significant plans beyond limited areas such as the 21-minute city and vertical gardens," adding, "A candidate running to be mayor responsible for the lives of 10 million Seoul citizens should at least announce plans covering the entire city administration as a minimum courtesy."

Regarding Park's recent statement that she has become firm in her thoughts on introducing a 4.5-day workweek, Woo strongly criticized, saying, "She opposed the introduction of the 52-hour workweek but suddenly advocates for a 4.5-day workweek, not even five days," calling it "an inconsistent move that frequently changes past statements."

He added, "No matter how good a policy is, if the leader's trust collapses and cooperative governance is not achieved, it cannot be implemented," urging, "I hope she presents ways to cooperate and communicate with Seoul citizens and local communities."

Park Young-sun, a preliminary candidate for the Seoul mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a press conference on Lunar New Year public sentiment held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 14th. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, Park's camp immediately rebutted, asking, "What exactly does it mean to be 'Democratic Party-like'?"

Park's campaign issued a statement saying, "We must never forget that we are the ruling party," but also expressed hope that "there will be ample opportunity to debate policies in upcoming TV debates."

Regarding the '21-minute compact city' pledge criticized by Woo, they countered, "The 21-minute living zone is a fundamental solution for an environmentally friendly Seoul that reduces car use and energy consumption," adding, "Candidate Park Young-sun is thinking about Seoul's future for the next 100 years."

Woo Sang-ho, a preliminary candidate for the Seoul mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a press briefing on Lunar New Year public sentiment held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 14th. / Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Woo once again criticized Park on the morning of the 15th, the day of the debate.

Appearing on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Woo said, "Using taxpayers' money to build vertical gardens underground beneath Yeouido roads, where citizens can pick vegetables, does not seem like a pledge urgently needed by ordinary people," criticizing Park's pledge as "somewhat leisurely."

He added, "Helping the socially vulnerable and easing the harsh realities of ordinary people is a Democratic Party-like policy," explaining, "That is why I said Park's pledge is not Democratic Party-like."

Meanwhile, Woo and Park are scheduled to debate on MBC's '100-Minute Debate' at 10:40 p.m. that day under the theme 'Seoul Mayor, Your Choice?'. The broadcast will cover various political issues, including ruling party unification, positions on former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, and policy pledges.

The two candidates are also scheduled for another TV debate on the 17th. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party primary voting is planned to take place over four days from the 26th of this month to the 1st of next month.

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