"Let's Judge, Let's Judge"... Opposition Party Fronts Regime Judgment Theory (Comprehensive)

People Power Party Criticizes Administration Over Real Estate Policy Issues
Ahn Cheol-soo Condemns Immorality Highlighting LH Scandal
Oh Se-hoon Emphasizes New Seoul, Slightly Distancing from Administration Judgment Argument

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok, Lee Hyun-joo, Park Joon-yi] O Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, filled his first campaign rally with a 'regime judgment theory.' He criticized the Moon Jae-in administration's real estate policies and appealed for laying the groundwork for regime change.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the campaign rally held in front of Daehanmun Gate at Deoksugung Palace in Jung-gu, Seoul, Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman, said, "The April 7 by-election is an opportunity to evaluate the Moon Jae-in administration's four years of policies and to correct the disorderly state affairs."

Chairman Kim pointed out, "The rise in real estate prices is not due to the fault of ordinary citizens but stems from the government's economic policy failures," adding, "However, the failure of real estate policies manifests as increased taxes on you." He continued, "Currently, the government raises official land prices and comprehensive real estate taxes as if the responsibility for real estate speculation lies with ordinary people," and said, "The current Moon Jae-in government is one that makes the livelihoods of innocent people difficult."

Chairman Kim also mentioned the recent extreme public distrust, referring to suspicions surrounding President Moon's AstraZeneca vaccine inoculation. He said, "This government talks about past issues and claims to be clearing out deep-rooted evils," and questioned, "Why do they try to clear out deep-rooted evils during an election?" He added, "There is nothing to boast about after leading this country for the past four years," and promised, "If the People Power Party wins this election and this victory becomes a foothold for regime change next year, I promise to correct the disorderly state affairs so far."

At the first support rally, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, opened by saying, "I stand here to keep the promise to Seoul citizens to achieve unification and judge the Moon Jae-in regime." He added, "This election is not only about choosing the future but first about judgment," and criticized, "This election is being held after wasting hundreds of billions of taxpayers' money due to the previous mayor's sexual misconduct. Even though they should apologize to the people for their sins, they victimized the victim as a secondary victim and shamelessly ran for office after granting themselves a self-immunity through their party's all-member vote. What kind of party is this?"

He pointed out, "Such shameless Democratic Party must be decisively judged." Referring to the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) employees' land speculation scandal, he said, "It shows how moral and justice have completely collapsed in society due to the unfair privileges and special rights of Korea, where they used their power and information to gain enormous unearned income." Ahn said, "Young people and ordinary citizens cannot buy houses no matter what, and homeowners cannot sell because of taxes, yet LH employees used insider information to secure land and plant trees to make huge profits," adding, "It’s not just LH employees; high-ranking officials who received reports and the government’s power holders must not have remained silent."

Ahn said, "Only your voting participation can judge the rotten, incompetent, and immoral power." He continued, "I, Ahn Cheol-soo, stand here today solely to unify for victory in this election and regime change next year," and said, "If I can judge the Moon Jae-in regime and lay the bridgehead for regime change, I will shout the name of the opposition unified candidate O Se-hoon a hundred or a thousand times even if my throat bursts."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

O Se-hoon, the last speaker, showed a focus on the future of Seoul to be changed rather than regime judgment theory.

He said, "If Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate, is elected, I think it will be Park Won-soon Season 2. What do you think?" He criticized, "For the past four years, the Moon Jae-in government stubbornly blocked reconstruction and redevelopment. The main actors who suppressed reconstruction and redevelopment were the figures who played a leading role in housing policy during former Mayor Park Won-soon's administration and then moved to the central government after the Moon administration was launched to implement housing policies."

He argued, "I think housing policy is the most important. As monthly rent, jeonse (key money deposit), and house prices rise, the money you can spend decreases," and claimed, "All of this started with former Mayor Park." The chaotic state of the Moon administration’s real estate policy began with former Mayor Park.

Additionally, O mentioned a female Seoul city employee who was sexually harassed by former Mayor Park, saying, "My heart aches just thinking about that victim who silently holds her breath and quietly watches who will take over the next administration," and added, "This is not just one person's problem but a problem for all women in Korea." He continued, "If I am elected, I will create a work environment in Seoul City where women can return without difficulty or hesitation."

O also expressed his intention to minimize the gap between Gangnam and non-Gangnam areas by strengthening Seoul’s urban competitiveness and solving transportation problems. He promised, "If I am elected, I will speed up the light rail that has not progressed and solve the isolation of Gyodong, achieving balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk."

Meanwhile, at the rally, there was a scuffle over the stance on homosexuality and other issues with Oh Tae-yang, the Future Party candidate for Seoul mayor, who had first occupied the Daehanmun area.

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