"Strong Condemnation of Blatant Election Interference"
President Moon Jae-in attended the 'Southeast Mega City Construction Strategy Report' held in Busan on the 25th, inspecting the planned site of Gadukdo Airport from a fishing guidance boat and receiving a related report from Acting Busan Mayor Lee Byung-jin on board. 2021.2.25jjaeck9@yna.co.kr
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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] The People Power Party criticized on the 27th the visit of President Moon Jae-in and the ruling party leadership to the site of the Gadeokdo New Airport, calling it "the Democratic Party's blatant ambition for victory that never ends."
Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "With the president leading the way, the party leader, floor leader, metropolitan government heads affiliated with the party, and ministers including the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy all mobilized to the Gadeokdo New Airport site," adding, "They threatened the public not to gather, but they have no regard for K-quarantine."
Spokesperson Yoon condemned it as "a clear election intervention," asking, "Has any administration or president ever led the ruling party leadership and ministers to the election site ahead of an election?"
He continued, "The wise people will not overlook the ruling party's behavior of losing reason before the election and even using the president," and stated, "We strongly condemn this blatant election intervention."
Meanwhile, regarding President Moon's visit to Busan, the People Power Party announced that they are considering legal accusations for violations of the election law. In response, the Democratic Party immediately called it an unconstitutional act and demanded its cessation.
Spokesperson Heo Young said in a statement, "Floor Leader Joo Ho-young is dividing the people with incomprehensible claims," and added, "The Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act, which passed the plenary session yesterday, is a bold first step toward national balanced development."
People Power Party Floor Leader Joo Ho-young is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th. 2021.2.25Photo by zjin@yna.co.kr
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He continued, "It is natural for the president to review policies for balanced development. It is precisely those who obstruct this who should be accused of unconstitutional acts," emphasizing, "Keep in mind that our future depends on resolving the imbalance between the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas."
In response, the People Power Party said, "There are limits even to impudence," and pointed out that "the president's election intervention, mobilizing the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, ministers, and heads of the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam metropolitan areas unprecedentedly, is an unconstitutional act."
Choi Hyung-doo, spokesperson for the People Power Party floor, said, "For four years, they insisted there was no change to the Gimhae New Airport plan, but when cornered by the Busan mayor's sexual crime by-election, they flipped like a palm," adding, "The president's blatant and public pressure on government ministries' financial principles should be remembered as potential abuse of power."
He also said, "Do the president and the ruling party know that the '2030 Expo host city' will be decided at the end of 2023?" and asked, "Have they considered how delays and extensions in the airport opening schedule might affect the Expo bid?"
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