Oh Se-hoon Says Jung Won-oh’s Remarks Sound Like a ‘Return to Park Won-soon Era,’ Urges Him to Shed ‘Handpicked Candidate’ Label

According to Financial News, after Jung Won-oh, former head of Seongdong District Office, was confirmed as the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate for Seoul mayor and declared he would "judge 10 years of Oh Se-hoon’s incompetence," Oh Se-hoon responded that the remark sounded like "a declaration of returning to 10 years of Park Won-soon’s failed administration."
Oh Se-hoon wrote on a social networking service (SNS) on the 10th, "After becoming the candidate, his very first words were about ‘judging the Oh Se-hoon administration,’" criticizing Jung in these terms.
He argued, "At the very least, if you are running to take responsibility for the fate of ten million Seoul residents, your own vision and plans for the future should come first," adding, "‘Judging Oh Se-hoon’ cannot serve as a vision for Seoul."
He went on, "The position of Seoul mayor is not just a complaints-handling office. It is a future designer who prepares Seoul for the next 10 or 20 years," stressing, "Seoul today, which stands on the verge of ranking fifth in global city competitiveness and welcoming 20 million tourists, is the result of planning for the future, looking ahead, and preparing in advance."
Oh also addressed policies of the "Oh Se-hoon administration" that the DPK has long criticized. He said, "When we launched projects such as Gwanghwamun Square, air quality improvement, the Hangang River Renaissance Project, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), installation of platform screen doors at all subway stations, and Wrist Doctor 9988, the Democratic Party denounced them as ‘a waste of taxpayers’ money’ and ‘showpiece administration,’" and countered, "If we had not started back then, there would be no everyday scenes of citizens enjoying the Han River, no landmarks that people around the world are eager to visit, and no proud Seoul we see today."
He added, "I watched the DPK primary process, but I have not seen from Jung Won-oh any concrete roadmap or implementation plan for how he will prepare Seoul’s future," and continued, "Now he should remove the ‘handpicked candidate’ label, step out of the shadow of his mentor, Park Won-soon, and present specific visions and plans for the future."
Oh Se-hoon stated, "The Seoul mayor is not an aide to the president, but a visionary who designs the future of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and its citizens," and pledged, "Together with citizens, I will now overwhelmingly complete the ‘changes we have begun’ over the past five years and responsibly prepare for a new future for Seoul."

chlee1@fnnews.com Lee Chang-hoon Reporter