Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo Criticizes Candidate Heo Taejeong for "Flood of Populist Pledges Including High Oil Price Compensation"

On April 23, Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, fiercely criticized Democratic Party candidate Heo Taejeong, who is running for Daejeon mayor in the June 3 local elections in a "rematch" four years after their last contest. Lee accused Heo of making a slew of populist pledges, such as compensation for damages caused by high oil prices, ahead of the election.

During a tea meeting with reporters in the city hall press room that day, Mayor Lee said, "It was difficult to manage the city's finances because we had to clean up the 'Ontong Daejeon' project that Candidate Heo promoted during his seventh term as mayor," adding, "If you elect such a candidate, Daejeon will be ruined," delivering his criticism in strong terms.

Candidate Heo has previously announced that, if elected, he would arrange a supplementary budget and, separate from government support, create a new compensation fund for damages caused by high oil prices, providing 200,000 won in local currency to encourage local consumption.

Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon (Photo by Mo Seokbong)

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When asked whether the marriage incentive program for young couples he has implemented since taking office is also a populist project, Mayor Lee drew a clear line, saying, "It is fundamentally different in nature, as it is an investment in the future of young people."

He further criticized, "Spending taxpayers' money on high-income earners is no different from a moral hazard," and questioned, "Has he forgotten everything that happened during his time as mayor, such as the logging of 70- to 80-year-old juniper trees and the killing of the O-World puma 'Porongi' after its escape?"

Regarding the issuance of 1.6 trillion won in municipal bonds during his tenure, Mayor Lee emphasized, "The construction cost of the second line of the urban railway tram increased by several hundred billion won because construction was delayed when Candidate Heo was mayor."

As for the 330 billion won O-World Recreation Project, which is being promoted mainly with urban development bonds, Lee explained, "Since it is issued by the urban development corporation, its nature is different. There is sufficient financial leeway."

In response to a recent local broadcaster's poll showing Candidate Heo leading by more than double, Mayor Lee expressed his discomfort, saying, "It all depends on how the survey questions are designed. It should be thoroughly consulted to prevent distortions."

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