An Election Left with Only Slander and No Vision... Adding to the Controversy of 'Makmal' Remarks

Park-Oh, Nearly 10 Cases Filed Against Opponent

Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Seoul mayor (left), and Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, are seen turning away after exchanging greetings before the start of the Seoul mayor by-election candidates' debate hosted by the Korea Broadcast Journalists Club at the Yecheong Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 5th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporters Jeon Jinyoung and Geum Boryeong] The April 7 by-elections have been widely criticized as negative political battles rather than competitions based on future-oriented visions. The number of complaints filed by both ruling and opposition parties against each other is approaching 10. When including complaints from third parties such as civic groups, the number is even higher. As the election day approaches, controversies over politicians' harsh remarks from both sides are increasing public fatigue.

In the Seoul mayoral race, a complaint battle erupted over Democratic Party candidate Park Young-sun's "Tokyo apartment" controversy and People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon's "real estate speculation allegations in Naegok-dong" related to his in-laws. As the opposition party continued with harsh criticisms such as calling Park a "tochak waegu" (native Japanese collaborator), Park's camp filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 23rd of last month against current and former People Power Party lawmakers for spreading false information. Park also filed a complaint on the 17th of last month against Oh and the head of the Seoul Housing Bureau during Oh's mayoral tenure for false statement allegations related to the Naegok-dong land speculation. Earlier, on the 10th of last month, Oh filed a complaint against Democratic Party lawmakers Cheon Junho and Go Min-jung for violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation for raising the Naegok-dong allegations.

In total, there are four mutual complaints between the two candidates. Additionally, progressive civic groups have filed complaints against Oh for his remarks related to the Yongsan tragedy, and conservative civic groups have filed complaints against Park for violating the Public Official Election Act by involving minors in election campaigning at her rallies. Complaints from civic groups continue to pile up.

The situation in Busan is similar. Democratic Party candidate Kim Young-choon filed a complaint against People Power Party candidate Park Hyung-joon over allegations of "preferential allotment," and Park's camp has announced plans to file a counter-complaint for false accusation.

The parties involved are fervently filing complaints, while politicians watching the situation are making harsh remarks in support. On the 5th, Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Cheong-rae requested donations for Park on Facebook, using expressions such as "Park needs bullets" and "Begging again after a long time," which drew heavy criticism from the People Power Party. The People Power Party retorted, "Are those bullets meant to kill the victim twice, or to put all citizens under the tyranny of the regime again?" and added, "Asking for money for an election held due to the Democratic Party's sexual misconduct is like saving a life and then demanding the bundle as well."

Additionally, on the 27th of last month, Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Ho-jung called Oh "trash," and on the 30th of last month, former United Future Party lawmaker Min Kyung-wook posted a photo on Facebook covering Park's face with a towel during a TV debate, adding the comment, "It looks like a towel but it's a rag."

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