Choi Jae-hyung Targets Lee Jae-myung... "Gyeonggi-do Belongs to Residents, Not a Tool for Presidential Ambitions"

People Power Party's presidential primary candidate Choi Jae-hyung is delivering a greeting at the Good Morning Forum held on the 12th at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, has decided to provide the third round of disaster basic income, which was criticized by Choi Jae-hyung, former Auditor General and presidential candidate of the People Power Party.

On the 14th, former Auditor General Choi stated on Facebook, "Gyeonggi Province is a local government for its residents, not an organization to promote Governor Lee's campaign promises."

Choi pointed out, "The residents of Gyeonggi Province have never delegated authority to Governor Lee to actively use Gyeonggi as a tool to fulfill his presidential ambitions," adding, "However, Lee is privatizing provincial government power and using Gyeonggi as if it were his presidential campaign headquarters. He is using public officials as if they were his campaign workers."

He continued, "Gyeonggi Province is spending 3.4 billion won to promote the basic income, which is Lee's signature pledge, even spreading it overseas," and said, "Gyeonggi Province is thoroughly ignoring the residents' right to know by not disclosing specific details such as execution records by media outlets in response to questions about this."

Former Auditor General Choi also raised criticism regarding the disaster relief funds. Governor Lee had announced that he would provide disaster relief funds to all residents of Gyeonggi Province, including the top 12% income earners who were excluded from the government's fifth round of disaster relief payments.

In response, Choi said, "This is an arbitrary vote-buying act that completely ignores the agreement between the president, the ruling party, and the National Assembly," emphasizing, "It is terrifying even to imagine someone who privatizes provincial administration so thoroughly acting on their own running the national government. If such a person becomes president, it is certain that they will become President Moon's Season 2, dividing the entire nation to maintain power."

Choi also criticized the appointment of 'food columnist' Hwang Kyo-ik as president of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, an institution under Gyeonggi Province. He said, "Governor Lee is even planning to give a public official position, paid with taxpayers' money, to someone who defended his 'brother-in-law's abusive language.' Is the presidency of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization a spoil to be handed out to Lee's lawyer?" He added, "Is Gyeonggi Province Lee's personal property? Did you run for president to make the country yours as well?"

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