Park Young-sun Evaluates 3 Presidential Contenders... 'Strengths Are Weaknesses' vs 'Building Welfare System' vs 'No Comment'

Park Young-sun Mentions Presidential Candidates at Kwanhun Debate on the 11th

Lee Jae-myung: "Implementing Progressive Policies Has Advantages... But Could Also Backfire"
Lee Nak-yeon: "Created a Unique Policy Brand Through Welfare System"
Yoon Seok-youl: "Have Much to Say but Will Omit..."

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, was notably reserved when mentioning former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol while discussing the pros and cons of leading presidential candidates. Park praised Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung for having the right direction on 'basic income' but emphasized that the issue of implementation is separate, highlighting differences in speed and detailed policies. She also highly evaluated former party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who recently completed his term, for bringing post-COVID-19 care issues into the public domain. However, regarding former Prosecutor General Yoon, whose approval ratings surged after his resignation, she said, "I have much to say but will omit it," and kept her remarks brief.

On the 11th, at the Kwanhun Forum held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Park Young-sun faced sharp questions from the media evaluating her qualifications as a Seoul mayoral candidate. In this forum, held before candidates Oh Se-hoon and Ahn Cheol-soo, Park was asked not only about the LH scandal but also about leading presidential candidates for next year's election.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park first evaluated Governor Lee Jae-myung, saying, "He has the advantage of implementing very progressive policies." However, she pointed out that "if the pace is too fast, it can become a disadvantage," indicating that strengths can also turn into weaknesses.

Regarding Lee's 'basic income,' Park acknowledged its necessity but said, "While preparation is needed, the issue of application is a separate matter," adding, "It can be applied on a pilot basis, but I believe applying the concept of 'basic assets' would be more helpful and appropriate for Seoul's administration."

She explained, "Approaching it as basic income would result in enormous fiscal expenditure," and "If approached as basic assets, the principal returns, reducing the city's financial burden." For example, in the case of starting assets for people in their 20s, if basic assets are given with the condition of repaying the principal over 10 years until their 30s or 40s, it would allow for efficient management without heavily using Seoul's budget.

When asked about the achievements and shortcomings of former party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who stepped down on the 9th, she said, "He created his own brand by newly establishing welfare systems such as care." She added, "The care sector will expand after COVID-19," and praised, "Issues like child abuse, elderly living alone, and dementia, which were previously family matters, need to enter the public domain, and I think former leader Lee rightly emphasized this."

As for shortcomings, she said, "There were a few instances where I wished he had been more resolute."

Before evaluating the two candidates, she did not make any separate remarks about former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who was asked about earlier.

When asked how Yoon's resignation might affect the election, Park said, "So far, the stories related to former Prosecutor General Yoon have been hearsay, like 'I heard that...,'" adding, "Therefore, I do not think it will be a direct cause affecting the Seoul mayoral election."

Regarding interpretations that Yoon's rising approval ratings are due to "not kowtowing to power," she said, "I worked with former Prosecutor General Yoon when I was the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, so I have a lot to say, but I will omit it."

She avoided elaborating, saying, "Because I am here as a Seoul mayoral candidate at the Kwanhun Forum."

However, when further asked if it is true that the votes of people in their 50s, self-employed, and moderate voters are divided in this election, and that the issue of prosecutorial reform is resurfacing, thus complexly influencing the Seoul mayoral election with former Prosecutor General Yoon at the center, she responded, "I have never said there is no influence at all."

When asked to evaluate the current prosecutorial reform, she emphasized, "No country in the world has prosecutors holding both investigative and prosecutorial powers," adding, "It is necessary to balance this unequal concentration of power."

However, she advocated for gradual reform, saying, "Because of resistance from vested interests and side effects in implementing the system, reform should be done step by step."

Regarding 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigative powers), she added, "I think it is premature to completely remove it all at once."

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