First One-on-One Debate Between Candidates Held
Lee Eon-ju "Went on a Leisure Trip" vs Park Hyung-jun "Why Come After Doing It in Gwangmyeong?"
Park Min-sik "Used Official Information as Deputy Mayor of Economy" vs Park Seong-hoon "No Problem with Direct Contact"
On the afternoon of the 15th, before the TV debate among the People Power Party candidates for the Busan mayoral primary began through Busan MBC, the candidates took a commemorative photo. From the left, candidates Park Seong-hoon, Lee Eon-ju, Park Min-sik, and Park Hyung-joon. 2021.2.15 [Provided by People Power Party Busan Branch · Redistribution and DB prohibited] [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Candidates gathered to become the final People Power Party nominee in the Busan mayoral by-election all emphasized that they are the right person to attract the Gadeokdo New Airport. Although the candidates tried to focus on job policies, they engaged in a war of nerves over their past political careers.
On the 15th, the People Power Party started the first debate to select the Busan mayoral candidate for the April by-election through Busan MBC and the YouTube channel 'Oreun Sori.' The debate was held in a matchup between candidates Park Seong-hoon, Park Min-sik, Lee Eon-ju, and Park Hyung-joon.
◆"Must attract the airport"= Former Busan Deputy Mayor Park Seong-hoon and former lawmaker Park Min-sik debated, with Park Min-sik saying, "Gadeokdo has been a battleground in politics for 20 to 30 years, so no matter who comes out and says they will do it, citizens do not believe them," and asked, "The important thing is the president's decision, and you need to draw out the president's decision. Do you have any thoughts on that?"
In response, former Deputy Mayor Park said, "We must urge the president and resolve the special law," adding, "I will go directly and negotiate a settlement."
When former lawmaker Park pressed, "To draw out the president's decision, if I become Busan mayor, the next day I will set up a tent in front of the Blue House and call the president out, and if that doesn't work, I will resign as Busan mayor. Without that kind of determination, no matter how much you talk in the election, citizens won't believe you," former Deputy Mayor Park responded, "I will do more than that."
Former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju emphasized, "It is true that the preliminary feasibility study for Gadeokdo failed. Raising economic feasibility is the role of the Busan mayor," and added, "Increasing demand through the underwater tunnel, inland railway, linkage with the new port, and KTX extension is the role of the Busan mayor."
Professor Park Hyung-joon said, "I have been advocating for the Gadeokdo airport as part of the local decentralization movement for 30 years."
Former lawmaker Lee said, "If our party puts the brakes on this, I am a member of the People Power Party, but I will not hesitate to withdraw my candidacy to see it through," and criticized, "The candidates during the MB government lacked that will." Professor Park expressed, "Even if the special law passes, if the regime does not change next year, there is a high possibility the current government will change its stance," and stated, "This election is to change the regime."
◆Heated voices over past slanders, not pledges= Former lawmaker Lee accused Professor Park of receiving 20 million won from screen horse-racing business owners while promoting the Game Industry Promotion Act during his time as a member of the 18th National Assembly and traveling to Las Vegas on what was considered a pleasure trip.
Former lawmaker Lee said, "I went with the representative of screen horse-racing business owners and a director of a gambling game manufacturer to receive 100 million won in sponsorship," and added, "In November 2005, he said gambling games are also an industry, and in December of that year, 'Bada Iyagi' caused problems but contributed to the lack of regulation."
Professor Park drew a line, saying, "This has nothing to do with 'Bada Iyagi'." He continued, "It was an official business trip of the Culture and Tourism Committee, and I proposed the Game Industry Promotion Act, which contributed to making Korea the number one country in online gaming," and added, "Arcades are only a part of it, and at that time, all organizations filed complaints, and I was investigated as an opposition lawmaker for six months but was found innocent. I said I would resign if there were moral issues, but I was cleared."
When Professor Park asked former lawmaker Lee, "Why did someone who served as a lawmaker in Gwangmyeong come to Busan? Did you come because you thought you could win in Busan?" the atmosphere worsened, prompting the moderator to intervene.
◆Clashes over economic policies= There was also a clash over economic policies. Former lawmaker Park criticized former Deputy Mayor Park's pledge to attract Samsung Electronics, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, and Samsung Engineering to Busan to create 30,000 jobs, saying, "The information you obtained as deputy mayor is public information, but using it could lead to moral criticism." Former Deputy Mayor Park responded, "I directly contacted high-ranking officials and personally led the corporate attraction, so it has nothing to do with moral hazard."
When Professor Park asked former lawmaker Lee if his pledge to establish an overseas employment academy was "a policy that sends young people away," Lee explained, "We prevent young people from leaving by keeping the Renault factory, but if there are good jobs in other countries, we should let them go."
The debate allotted 2 minutes for candidate vision presentations, 16 minutes for discussion, and 2 minutes for closing remarks, totaling 20 minutes each. The first debate will be held in Seoul on the 16th. Joint debates with four preliminary candidates from each region are scheduled for the 25th (Busan) and 26th (Seoul).
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