Does Kwon Obong, Yeosu Mayor Preliminary Candidate, Have the Qualification to Debate Policy?

Candidate Kwon Obong Faces Conflicts with Media, Civil Society, and Yeosu City Council over Key Policies

"The Mayor's Secretary-General is a Position Supporting the Mayor's Administrative Actions, Not Political Activities"

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Jeon Chang-gon, a preliminary candidate for Yeosu mayor, asked on the 27th, "Does preliminary candidate Kwon Oh-bong have the qualification to discuss policy debates?"

This was a counter-question to preliminary candidate Kwon Oh-bong's claim that "Candidates Jeong Gi-myeong, Jeon Chang-gon, and Kang Hwa-soo focus only on spreading false information through statements rather than presenting policies and visions."

Regarding the suspicion that preliminary candidate Kwon Oh-bong's secretary general submitted party membership applications on his behalf, Kwon claimed, "As a public official, I never directly instructed recruitment, and a special-position public official who supports my political activities simply delivered the applications brought by supporters several times, which is not a legal violation." In response, preliminary candidate Jeon Chang-gon pointed out, "This shows a neglect of the basic duties as a public official."

He questioned, "The secretary general of the incumbent mayor is a position that assists the mayor's administrative actions, not political activities," and asked, "Isn't preliminary candidate Kwon, who calls himself a master of administration, unable to distinguish between political and administrative actions?"

Preliminary candidate Jeon stated, "During Kwon Oh-bong's tenure as mayor, most important policies caused conflicts by opposing Yeosu civic groups and the Yeosu City Council, earning him the reputation of a 'closed-off mayor,'" and questioned whether such Kwon Oh-bong "has the qualification to discuss policy debates."

Meanwhile, dissatisfaction with Mayor Kwon Oh-bong's closed administration was also high among the media.

Journalists must apply for interviews with the mayor through the public relations officer, and except for a few media outlets close to Mayor Kwon, those critical of Yeosu city administration were denied interviews.

Since 2020, citing COVID-19, the mayor's office has been firmly closed, and even when business cards were left at the secretary's office, Mayor Kwon did not respond.

Preliminary candidate Jeon Chang-gon urged once again, saying, "Candidate Kwon should stop misleading citizens and apologize for the proxy submission of party membership applications by his secretary general, which is the duty owed to Yeosu citizens who desire a fair and clean election."

Meanwhile, Jeon Chang-gon, preliminary candidate for Yeosu mayor, expressed confidence in victory in the primary, saying, "Since the primary debate, I have been recognized by citizens as a 'prepared candidate,'" and "As my sincerity is conveyed to the citizens, my approval rating is rising sharply."