Seoul mayor candidates collide over real estate issues in TV debate
Apr 06, 2021, 09:30 am
Park Young-sun (L) of the ruling Democratic Party and Oh Se-hoon (R) of the main opposition People Power Party – candidates for the Seoul mayoralty – bump fists before a TV debate in Seoul on April 5, 2021, ahead of the April 7 by-election./ National Assembly Press Corps
AsiaToday reporter Kim Youn-ji
The ruling Democratic Party’s Park Young-sun and main opposition People Power Party’s Oh Se-hoon engaged in their final TV debate Monday ahead of the April 7 by-elections, where they clashed over Oh’s alleged land speculation and the Moon administration’s housing policies. Park criticized Oh, saying, “If a lying candidate becomes a mayor, we have nothing to teach blossoming children.” Oh criticized the Moon administration, asking Park, “The former administration raised home appraisal price by 14%, but the Moon administration raised by 72%. Is it appropriate?”
Posted : 2021-04-04 16:50
Updated : 2021-04-04 16:52
A voter casts his ballot for the Seoul mayoral by-election at a polling station in Seoul Station, Friday, the first day of the two-day early voting period for the April 7 by-elections. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Jung Da-min
Both the ruling and main opposition parties have claimed the high early voting turnout in Wednesday s by-elections would work to their advantages, helping their candidates win the Seoul and Busan mayoral races.
While the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said the high early voting turnout showed the DPK supporters solidarity and high participation in favor of its candidate Park Young-sun, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) said people would have voted for its candidate Oh Se-hoon to judge the policy failures of the ruling bloc.
Younger generations turning away from liberal ruling party
Posted : 2021-04-02 16:51
Updated : 2021-04-04 21:02
Park Young-sun, left, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea s Seoul mayoral by-election candidate, casts a ballot at an early voting station in Jongno District Office, central Seoul, Friday, while Oh Se-hoon, candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, waves during a campaign at Sangam-dong in western Seoul, Friday. Young voters are turning toward Oh of the conservative party, reflecting frustrations with the current liberal Moon Jae-in administration. Joint press corps
By Kwon Mee-yoo
It is commonly perceived that younger people are more liberal than older generations and tend to vote for the more liberal parties or candidates.
Posted : 2021-03-15 16:56
Updated : 2021-03-16 10:28
President Moon Jae-in presides over a meeting with his key aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Yonhap
Speculative land buying scandal pushes down President s support rate
By Jung Da-min
A speculative land purchase scandal involving employees of a state-run housing corporation has dragged down support for President Moon Jae-in and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), becoming a major variable for the April 7 mayoral by-elections in the cities of Seoul and Busan.
Given that real estate is one of the most sensitive issues here with people suffering from high home prices, there are expectations that the effects of the incident may not stop at the by-elections but go beyond them accelerating the Moon administration into a lame-duck presidency.
Death of former transgender soldier reveals poor conditions for LGBTQ rights
Posted : 2021-03-12 09:17
Updated : 2021-03-14 17:51
A memorial altar for Byun Hee-soo, a 23-year-old transgender former soldier who was found dead at her home, March 3, is set up the following day by the progressive minor Justice Party at the National Assembly in Seoul. Byun had been discharged from the Army last year after her gender reassignment surgery. Courtesy of Justice Party
By Jung Da-min
The death of Byun Hee-soo, a 23-year-old transgender former soldier forced to discharge from the Army last year following her sex reassignment surgery, has reignited debates on the rights of sexual minorities here. Byun was found dead in her home in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, March 3, after her mental health counselor called emergency services to report that she had not been in contact since Feb. 28.