People Power Party: "Song Young-gil spreads false information that 'Yoon relies on superstition to go to Yongsan'... Must stop immediately"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 22nd, the People Power Party criticized Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, urging him to "immediately stop spreading false information."

On the same day, Park Hyung-soo, spokesperson for the People Power Party's election committee, issued a statement saying, "At a concentrated campaign rally in Songpa-gu yesterday, Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidate Song Young-gil targeted President Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, 'He is stubbornly insisting on moving to Yongsan, leaving the perfectly fine Cheongwadae behind, relying on superstition.'" He pointed out, "This is completely baseless rumor and spreading false information, which constitutes a crime under election law."

Spokesperson Park emphasized, "President Yoon initially pledged to relocate Cheongwadae to Gwanghwamun. Yongsan was not part of the original presidential plan," adding, "The relocation of Cheongwadae to Yongsan was the most rational choice decided after intense discussions and verification by the transition committee regarding the objective pros and cons of each candidate site, practical difficulties, and cost issues."

He explained, "If relocated to Gwanghwamun, there would be practical difficulties such as cost issues and interference with communications for security, causing operational disruptions to nearby companies and the U.S. and Japanese embassies densely located there," and added, "Also, the existing Cheongwadae crisis management center's situation room and helipad would have to continue to be used, making it impossible to fully return Cheongwadae to the people." He continued, "These problems were resolved at once, and the Yongsan relocation, estimated to cost only one-third of the Gwanghwamun relocation, was decided," further stating, "The future Yongsan Park to be developed also served as an attractive element to strengthen communication with the public."

Spokesperson Park said, "Spreading false information by calling it superstition is absolutely unacceptable, no matter how difficult the Seoul mayoral election situation is," and urged, "Candidate Song should immediately apologize politely for his reckless remarks and decide on his position as soon as possible."