Hong Jun-pyo "Don't Sell Out the President-Elect for Politics"... Kim Jae-won "Presidential Will Needed for TK Integrated Airport"

First TV Debate for People Power Party's Daegu Mayor Candidates on the 19th
Dispute Over Nomination Penalty Rules and Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport Construction
People Power Party to Announce Final Daegu Mayor Candidate on the 23rd

On the afternoon of the 19th, at TBC Daegu Broadcasting in Dusan-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu, the "8th Local Election People Power Party Daegu Mayor Candidate Debate" was held. From the left, former Supreme Council Member Kim Jae-won, Congressman Hong Joon-pyo, and Attorney Yoo Young-ha are taking a commemorative photo before the debate. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The three preliminary candidates for the People Power Party’s Daegu mayoral primary in the June 1 local elections?Kim Jaewon, Yoo Youngha, and Hong Junpyo?engaged in a tense exchange during their first TV debate. The debate saw clashes over the party’s nomination penalty rules and the construction of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport.

Candidate Hong stated at the "8th Local Election People Power Party Daegu Mayor Candidate Debate" held on the 19th at the TBC Daegu Broadcasting studio, "We will build the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport as a nationally funded airport and attract large corporations to the airport industrial complex," adding, "This pledge was supported by President-elect Yoon and Lee Jae-myung, the senior advisor of the Democratic Party, so there is no issue."

Candidate Kim questioned Hong’s role by referring to "Yoon’s mind" (the will of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol). Kim said, "To build the Daegu New Airport with national funds, a firm and unwavering will from the president is necessary," and criticized, "I doubt whether Candidate Hong can play such a role. The president has many places to spend money on; would he approve if Hong became mayor?" In response, Hong retorted, "That is a very rude debate attitude. Don’t use the president-elect for political gain," and added, "You speak as if you wish the Daegu Airport would not become a nationally funded airport. It is the first pledge of the president for Daegu and Gyeongbuk."

The two also clashed over the party’s nomination penalty rules. The People Power Party’s June 1 local election nomination management committee (Nomination Committee) decided on the 29th of last month that if a local district lawmaker runs in the local election, they will receive a 5% penalty, and if they have a history of leaving the party and running after rejecting nominations within the past five years, they will receive a 10% penalty.

Candidate Hong questioned Candidate Kim, who was a party supreme council member at the time and participated in the Nomination Committee vote, asking, "Is it legally permissible for an interested party to attend the vote on the penalty rule?" Kim explained, "I just followed the opinion of Party Leader Lee Jun-seok and voted accordingly," adding, "We have to evaluate numerous candidates nationwide. I even suggested reducing the score because the penalty was excessive."

On the same day, Candidate Yoo emphasized making Daegu a data hub city. Regarding support policies for the service industry, he explained, "Instead of one-time policies, it is important to help service workers permanently," and said, "We will make Daegu a data hub city to collect data on who bought what and when, and provide it to the service industry."

Candidate Kim countered, "Right now, people are desperate due to COVID-19; it is not a leisurely situation to support data. Cash compensation policies such as income tax and VAT exemptions are necessary." Candidate Hong argued, "The high proportion of the service industry itself is an abnormal industrial structure," and claimed, "There are limits to growth this way, so we need to restructure the industrial structure and increase the share of manufacturing."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party’s Daegu mayoral candidate will be announced on the 23rd by combining 50% responsible party member votes and 50% general public opinion polls.

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