Song Young-gil's Controversy Over "Gangbuk Is the Poorest" Remark... "Meant to Address Infrastructure Disparities"

Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, is greeting citizens while moving after holding a concentrated campaign near Nowon Station in Seoul on the afternoon of the 19th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Culture Young-in Intern Reporter] Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, clarified on the 20th regarding the controversy caused by his remark on the 19th that "Gangbuk is the poorest area," saying, "I hope people understand it as an intention to supplement the infrastructure."

On the morning of the same day, after announcing the 'Baro Hangang Project' pledge at the National Assembly, Song emphasized in a meeting with reporters about the remark, "It should be understood as an intention to supplement the infrastructure due to a kind of discrimination in infrastructure." He added, "I also meant that the subway infrastructure is relatively underdeveloped."

Earlier, on the afternoon of the previous day, Song responded to a question about "the reason for campaigning in Gangbuk on the first official day of electioneering" in front of a department store in Nowon-gu, saying, "Gangbuk is the poorest. The GDP difference with Gangnam is more than 20 times," which sparked controversy.

Regarding this, the People Power Party immediately criticized it as "dividing Gangnam and Gangbuk." Kim Yong-tae, a Supreme Council member, wrote on his Facebook, "It seems like he is determined to lose the election," and criticized, "While South Korea is continuously calling for national unity and making efforts, is Candidate Song already trying to divide Seoul citizens into Gangnam and Gangbuk?"

In response, Song said, "Rather than wasting time on such unnecessary remarks, I believe it is necessary to seriously consider how to improve the actual infrastructure in Gangbuk."

Song further explained, "As you know, the subway stations where three lines intersect are about 64% in Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu, but in 'No-Dob-Gang,' referring to Nowon-gu, Dobong-gu, and Gangbuk-gu, it is only about 14%, showing very weak infrastructure." He promised, "Therefore, I will supplement the dense subway network, including the Gangbuk Transversal Line and the new Gangbuk Line, through the second railway network plan initiated during former Mayor Park Won-soon's administration."