Ongoing Debate on 'Jeju Politics Becoming Jeollado-ified'... Daily Clashes of 'Gaslighting' and 'Bitterness'

Busangil "Bucheon General Election Candidacy and Gangnam Losing Candidate Ranked 1st in Jeju After Few Days, Puzzling"

Democratic Party Jeju Provincial Committee Criticizes "Incendiary Remarks Stirring Regional Sentiment and Disregarding Jeju Residents as 'Worsening'"

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Chang-won] Boo Sang-il, the People Power Party candidate for the National Assembly by-election (Jeju-si Eul), sparked a heated debate for three consecutive days after stating in an interview with Jeju local media on the 17th that "Jeju Island has become Jeollado-ified."

The remark was first made during a candidate invitation interview for the Jeju-si Eul by-election organized by a Jeju local media outlet.

In the interview, Candidate Boo said, "I cannot help but agree with the statement that Jeju Island has become Jeollado-ified. It seems Jeju has become a tilted playing field."

In response, Kim Han-gyu, the Democratic Party candidate, criticized the comment as "a statement that incites regional sentiment."

The debate continued during the Jeju KBS debate held the following day, with the Jeju branches of the People Power Party and the Democratic Party issuing daily statements, showing signs of a factional confrontation.

The Democratic Party Jeju branch criticized, saying, "It is a statement that incites regional sentiment and disregards the people of Jeju, and the situation is worsening." Independent candidate Kim Woo-nam also said, "The attitude shown by Candidate Boo is pitiful as it exudes malice."

In response, the People Power Party Jeju branch supported Candidate Boo’s remarks, stating, "Jeju was a region balanced politically among ruling, opposition, and independent parties 20 years ago. However, the current political situation is dominated by a specific party, and the candidate’s statement reflects his anguish over this."

Meanwhile, Candidate Boo stated in a previous statement titled "Jeju Gaslit to Vote for the Democratic Party Even If a Stick Is Planted" that "The shocking result of the public opinion poll on the 16th, showing the Democratic Party candidate in first place, was a shock."

He added, "It is unbelievable that a person who declared candidacy for the National Assembly in Bucheon and lost in Gangnam took first place in Jeju just days after arriving."

This is interpreted as expressing his feelings regarding the background of the Jeollado-ification remark in Jeju politics.

He also emphasized, "Because they are neither judged nor checked, the Jeju Democratic Party has become more arrogant, and the residents are disregarded. I reprimand Jeju Democratic politicians who rely on Honam rather than public sentiment to engage in comfortable politics, and no more blind support for the Democratic Party is acceptable."

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Chang-won captain@asiae.co.kr