Oh Se-hoon "What if mosquitoes appear in the vertical garden?" vs Park Young-sun "Childish"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, criticized the 'Vertical Garden City' pledge of Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, as unrealistic.

On the 29th, during the MBC 100-minute Seoul mayor candidate debate, Oh evaluated Park's vertical garden pledge as "a luxurious building unsuitable for our mountainous country."

Park has proposed a '21 multi-core city' along with pledges to expand green spaces in Seoul, presenting the concept of a 'Vertical Garden City.'

Oh emphasized that vertical gardens have failed in China and asked, "What about mosquitoes in the summer?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Oh said, "There are mosquitoes in forests during summer, but are there no mosquitoes in vertical gardens? People who moved into apartments here reportedly left because of mosquitoes," and asked, "Do you have no intention of withdrawing this?" He also mentioned that each vertical garden costs 500 billion won, and if 21 such gardens are built, a large budget will be required. He argued that the funds should be used for those in Seoul who need help.

In response to the mosquito issue, Park retorted, "That is a childish analogy uncharacteristic of Oh Se-hoon."

Park said, "What threatens us after COVID-19 is climate change," adding, "The pledge is to create a healthy city that supplies oxygen, but Oh makes attacks for the sake of attacks and criticism for the sake of criticism. I think this is undesirable."

On the same day, Park emphasized the '21-minute city' as a measure for balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk. He said, "Park Young-sun's 'Great Transformation of Seoul' starts with how Seoul should look in this era shifting from analog to digital," adding, "By creating 21 clusters and placing jobs there, and having hospitals, libraries, gyms, walking trails, and shopping centers within 21 minutes, it will be the city closest to balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk."

He continued, "The 21-minute city aims to reduce fine dust and create a healthy city," emphasizing, "The 21-minute city that protects the health of Seoul citizens will become the standard for a digital economy city."

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