People Power Party Fresh Lawmakers: "Seoul Mayor Debate Should Have No Negativity"

"Regrettable Negative Campaigning... Let's Win with Dignity"

People Power Party Seoul Mayoral Primary Candidates
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] First-term lawmakers from the People Power Party appealed for the candidates running in the Seoul mayoral primary to demonstrate policy discussions free of 'negative confrontations' at the final joint debate.

The group of first-term lawmakers issued a statement at the National Assembly Press Hall on the afternoon of the 25th, saying, "One-on-one debates between candidates vying to be our party's mayoral candidates for Seoul and Busan, which are just over 40 days away, have been heatedly conducted, and now only the joint debate remains."

They added, "The one-on-one face-to-face debates between candidates are an unprecedented event in South Korean political history created by our party, featuring standing debates with no predetermined questions and no use of documents," and evaluated that "the candidates' abilities and visions are revealed in their bare form and are immediately assessed on-site, resulting in high voter engagement."

However, they noted, "The only regrettable part was that some debates involved negative confrontations," and pointed out, "We, the first-term members of the People Power Party, have entrusted the truth verification and handling of negativity to the authority and responsibility of the primary management committee."

Furthermore, they suggested, "We hope the candidates will trust the primary management committee and appeal for voter support through sincere policy discussions without negative confrontations in the remaining joint debates."

Finally, the group of first-term lawmakers expressed, "We expect the candidates, who have run with a do-or-die spirit, to remain faithful to policies and visions until the last joint debate and strive to raise our party's evaluation," and said, "Let us win with dignity through policies and visions."

Meanwhile, two joint debates are scheduled on the 26th and the 1st of next month for the final selection of the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate. Following this, a public opinion survey period will be held from the 2nd to the 3rd of next month, with the final candidate announcement planned for the 4th.