Democratic Party Responds "Let's Do It" to People Power Party's Request for 'Gwangju Complex Shopping Mall' Forum

Kang Suhun, Head of the Democratic Party Gwangju Branch Election Committee, on SNS: "Let's Discuss the Future Vision of Gwangju and Honam"

Screenshot from Kang Su-hoon's Facebook, head of the Democratic Party Gwangju City Party Election Committee.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] As the Democratic Party of Korea directly counters the debate proposed by the People Power Party regarding the Gwangju complex shopping mall, attention is focused on whether a debate between the two parties will take place.

On the 19th, Kang Suhoon, Standing Election Countermeasures Headquarters Chief of the Democratic Party’s Gwangju City Party, posted on his SNS a photo of a past debate with Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, along with the message, “Leader Lee Jun-seok! I propose a debate.”

Kang recalled the past, saying, “It must have been seven years ago. We debated together and had a glass of soju at a pojangmacha (street food stall),” adding, “We talked about creating a better world and that such an era would come.”

He then criticized, “But now, ahead of the presidential election, what is this? Dividing people over whether there is a shopping mall in the region or not, causing conflict?isn’t that shameful?”

He requested, “This presidential election is really important. Let’s debate visions concerning the future of Gwangju and Honam.”

The confrontation between the two parties over the Gwangju complex shopping mall arose after Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, mentioned it during a campaign rally in Gwangju on the 16th.

At that time, Yoon said at Songjeong Maeil Market in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, “In places like Busan and Daegu, citizens enjoy cultural activities, shop, and watch movies at complex shopping malls, but Gwangju lacks a proper one,” adding, “Therefore, residents of Gwangju and Jeonnam have to travel to other regions.”

He continued, “The people of Gwangju and Jeonnam have long hoped for the attraction of a complex shopping mall, but who prevented it?” and questioned, “Why should wealthy people and relatively disadvantaged people support specific political parties?”

He emphasized, “Not only attracting a complex shopping mall but also developing Gwangju can reduce the outflow of young generations,” adding, “Gwangju will be at the center of South Korea’s development.”

In response, the Democratic Party immediately pushed back.

Song Gap-seok, Chair of the Democratic Party’s Gwangju City Party, issued a statement saying, “Market merchants have suffered unimaginable pain for over two years due to COVID-19, so who exactly is the presidential candidate that talks about attracting large corporate complex shopping malls to traditional markets?” He argued, “The shamelessness of talking about attracting large corporate complex shopping malls in front of traditional market merchants is not the only problem.”

He added, “In this situation, instead of presenting concrete measures to restore people’s livelihoods as a presidential candidate, expressing strong regret over sowing discord by mentioning ‘GRDP last place’ is unacceptable,” raising his voice, “Inciting pro and con debates without basic knowledge of the local economic structure and disparaging the region with provocative language is nothing but outdated division tactics.”

Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju, also remarked, “Attracting a complex shopping mall is a matter for the Gwangju mayor to take responsibility for and promote through consultation with citizens,” warning, “Do not incite division and conflict within the region; focus on more urgent livelihood issues.”

With the situation escalating, the People Power Party proposed an official debate on the complex shopping mall.

The People Power Party stated, “We hoped for a city where traditional markets and complex shopping malls coexist, and where large corporations, small business owners, and self-employed people coexist and develop together,” adding, “According to a public opinion poll released last year by a Gwangju media outlet, 6 out of 10 Gwangju citizens (58%) supported attracting a complex shopping mall, while only 10% opposed it.”

They also pointed out, “Among young people in their 20s and 30s, over 70% and 59.6% of self-employed people actively supported the attraction,” criticizing, “Despite this strong desire for a complex shopping mall, the Democratic Party is misleading public opinion by claiming that the People Power Party is causing division and conflict.”

Furthermore, they declared, “If the Democratic Party’s Gwangju City Party continues to oppose the complex shopping mall that Gwangju citizens want, we will directly ask the citizens and appeal for the mall’s attraction,” and announced, “The People Power Party’s Gwangju City Party proposes a debate on the topic of promoting the complex shopping mall to the Democratic Party’s Gwangju City Party officials.”

In this situation, as the Democratic Party appears to be accepting the debate proposed by the People Power Party, interest is growing as to whether the debate will actually take place.

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