Jung Won-oh Vows to Judge 10 Years of Oh Se-hoon and Form a "Crucible" Campaign Committee

According to The Financial News, Jung Won-oh, Seoul mayoral candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), declared on the 10th that he would change the Seoul shaped over the past 10 years under Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, from the People Power Party (PPP). He also hinted at forming a broad "Crucible Election Committee" that would include the rivals who ran against him in the primary, putting past competition behind them.
At the press conference held that day at the National Assembly Communication Center, Jung said, "This Seoul mayoral election is not simply about deciding who becomes mayor." He continued, "It is an election to choose a responsible Seoul that prioritizes what citizens need, rather than a Seoul where the mayor pushes ahead with what he wants to do."
He argued, "The reason citizens feel fatigued by Oh Se-hoon's administration over the past 10 years is clear." He criticized, "Because of the incompetence, irresponsibility, and insensitivity of Oh Se-hoon's administration, the basics of life have been shaken, opportunities have narrowed, and expectations for the future have faded."
Jung went on, "The Seoul that citizens want is a Seoul different from what we see now." He added, "That change does not come from the government dragging people from the front. It is a change that becomes possible only when citizens, businesses, and the administration join forces together."
In response, Jung pledged five key campaign promises.
The first is the 30-Minute Commute City Initiative. He promised to shorten the time it takes to move from home to the bus stop, from the bus stop to the station, and from the station to the workplace. He also announced that he would push institutional reforms so that redevelopment, reconstruction, and other urban renewal projects do not stall. In addition, he plans to build a disaster response system in which forecasting, prevention, and on-site response function properly. To support a healthy old age for seniors, he pledged to create smart healthcare centers and establish senior campuses. Finally, he said he would expand cultural infrastructure such as the K Arena to strengthen Seoul's future competitiveness, and support neighborhood commercial districts and the growth of local brands.
Jung also stated, "I will form a 'crucible' campaign committee that can unite the strength of the DPK into one and incorporate voices from the field and diverse expertise." He added, "We will run an inclusive campaign that brings together forces within the party and also embraces the broader will of citizens who want change in Seoul."
Regarding this, Jung said, "The Crucible Election Committee will, of course, include not only the pledges of candidates Park Joo-min and Jeon Hyun-hee, but also those of Kim Young-bae and Kim Hyeong-nam, and we will reorganize our platform to encompass them all."
He added, "We plan to include incumbent lawmakers who currently represent Seoul constituencies, and we also hope to invite figures who can represent the crucial centrist voters in this election," signaling that he intends to recruit personnel beyond traditional partisan lines.
With the PPP primary underway to select its Seoul mayoral candidate, Jung targeted his strongest expected rival, Oh Se-hoon, saying, "His philosophy is wrong." He criticized, "The owner of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's administration should be the citizens of Seoul, but he thinks it is the Seoul mayor. He is not doing what citizens want, but what he wants to do as mayor."
gowell@fnnews.com Kim Hyeong-gu Reporter