After Owning '8 Houses', Seocheolmo Hwaseong Mayor Runs Again... Primary Opponents Demand "Nomination Exclusion"

Hwaseong City Hall

[Asia Economy (Hwaseong) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Seo Cheol-mo, mayor of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province (Democratic Party), who has sparked controversy over holding houses under other people's names after owning eight houses and selling them, will run again in the local elections on June 1.

However, fellow Democratic Party preliminary candidates for Hwaseong mayor have drawn attention by urging the party to exclude Mayor Seo Cheol-mo, who is embroiled in the controversy over holding houses under other people's names, from the nomination.

On the 20th, Mayor Seo stated on Facebook, "Having registered as a preliminary candidate for Hwaseong mayor the day before, I stand here once again to receive the choice of the citizens," effectively confirming his re-election bid.

He added, "Over the past four years, I have worked hard to create a 'happy city' Hwaseong, and there have been many changes and growth," and "I am challenging re-election to see the results continue and bear fruit."

In particular, he emphasized, "I will continue to strengthen what I have been doing and create new things," and "My dream and the image I have shown so far is to carry out everything together with the citizens through communication and discussion."

However, four Democratic Party preliminary candidates for Hwaseong mayor recently held a joint press conference, stating, "Among the eight houses that Mayor Seo, who was a multi-homeowner, reportedly disposed of last year, one was sold to his sister, which is suspected to be held under another person's name," urging his exclusion from the nomination.

They also claimed, "It is inappropriate that Lee Won-wook, a member of the National Assembly and chairman of the Democratic Party's strategic nomination committee, serves as the chairman of Mayor Seo's support committee."

Meanwhile, a total of 16 preliminary candidates have registered for the Hwaseong mayoral election, including six from the Democratic Party, nine from the People Power Party, and one from the People Party.