Saenuri’s mayor hopefuls in 1st TV debate

The three Saenuri Party members hoping to contest the Seoul mayoral race appeared in their first televised primary debate, Wednesday.

During the debate, former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, seven-term lawmaker Chung Mong-joon and Supreme Council member Lee Hye-hoon also attacked sitting Mayor Park Won-soon, a member of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD).

Stressing his competitive edge, Kim said he has sufficient experience from being in high-ranking positions. He was a Supreme Court judge and head of the Board of Audit and Inspection as well as serving as prime minister.

Chung, a son of the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung, said he was the most suitable person to create more jobs.

Lee said she will adopt an “innovative conservative stance,” saying she is the only Saenuri Party candidate who can attract middle-of-the-road voters.

During the debate aired live on KBS, SBS, MBC and cable news channels, Kim said he has 40 years of experience in various public posts.

“This means I am an administrative expert to manage various policies for citizens,” said Kim. “I will create a community in which everybody can live together in happiness.”

The former prime minister pointed out that he had passed “harsh” National Assembly confirmation hearings three times.

“I am the only candidate who can beat Mayor Park as my qualifications were already proved at those hearings,” he said.

Chung directly targeted the mayor, saying “Park has said he wants to be remembered as a mayor who did nothing. I want to be remembered as a mayor who worked very hard.”

The largest shareholder of Hyundai Heavy Industries said he studied economics and business administration, and his company is one that many people want to work for.

“I played a huge role in attracting both the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and the 2002 World Cup,” said the veteran lawmaker, stressing his successes. “Seoul’s economy has been slow and many people have fled the city. I will rectify this by creating more jobs. I will look after welfare policies for citizens as well.”

For her part, Lee said that the most significant aspect of the election is who will be able to attract support from independent and middle-of-the-road voters, because the former Democratic Party and supporters of independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo had completed their merger, making the election a two-way race.

“For that, a candidate should be young and reformist. I am younger than any candidates and female,” she said. “I hope voters choose a person who will not waste taxpayers’ money.”

The three hopefuls plan to hold four televised debates before the party holds its primary vote to select a final candidate on April 30.

In the meantime, the NPAD demanded that broadcasters give Mayor Park an equivalent opportunity to answer the Saenuri Party hopefuls’ criticism. By Jun Ji-hye The korea times