Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul Mayor, criticized his opponent Jung Won-o on May 28, stating, "It is misguided to classify unfavorable comments as negative campaigning." This remark was in response to Jung's claim that he refused to participate in a debate due to negative attacks from Oh's camp.
During a press conference held at his campaign office in Gwancheol-dong, Oh expressed that Jung's approach to the election was not appropriate. He emphasized, "Elections are fundamentally about verification," adding that both positive and negative aspects should be examined to assess a candidate's capabilities. He noted that how candidates respond to unfavorable circumstances is also a critical evaluation factor.
Oh defined negative campaigning as "creating falsehoods to attack opponents," asserting that his campaign has never made baseless claims but has only sought clarifications regarding past actions. He stated, "It is wrong to label something negative simply because it is unfavorable to oneself."
He further criticized Jung, saying, "A candidate who classifies requests for clarification as negative and refuses to attend debates may be the first in the world to do so." Oh insisted that the more significant and personal the issue, the more it is the candidate's responsibility to clarify directly to voters, rather than relying on their campaign or spokesperson.
Oh also accused Jung of engaging in smear tactics throughout the election. Jung claimed, "From the beginning of the campaign, I proposed a policy-focused election without negativity, but I have consistently faced slander against me."
In response to Jung's heightened criticism regarding safety concerns, Oh firmly rebutted, stating, "I was the one who led the installation of closed-circuit television at construction sites commissioned by the city and the 100% installation of screen doors in subways." He reiterated his commitment to prioritizing safety through policy development and execution.
Regarding a recent poll showing both candidates tied in support, Oh stated he would not be swayed by the results and would continue to campaign with a challenger’s mindset until the election's conclusion. He remarked, "This was an expected phenomenon," and expressed his determination to campaign vigorously, saying, "I have worked hard over the past five years and have relied on policies to win support. I trust the citizens of Seoul."
A survey conducted by Munhwa Ilbo and Embrain Public from May 25 to 27 revealed that both Jung and Oh received 39% support, significantly narrowing the gap that was previously in double digits. The poll involved 805 Seoul voters and had a response rate of 14.0%, with a margin of error of ±3.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For more details, refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Committee's website.
Oh's campaign is currently considering resuming active campaigning. He had suspended his campaign schedule following the collapse of the Seosomun overpass on May 26 to focus on recovery efforts and response measures. Since the incident, he has visited the site four times and paid respects to the victims without notifying the media on May 27.
During the press conference, Oh stated, "It is premature to discuss resuming campaign activities while the victims have not yet been laid to rest," but acknowledged the importance of the election and indicated he was deeply contemplating the situation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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