Lee "Judgment on the Regime" Won "Regional Development"... Differing Perspectives in the 'Myeongryong Battle'

First Debate for Incheon Gyeyang-gu Eul Candidates... Ruling and Opposition Parties' 'Proxy War'
Lee Jae-myung: "All Situations Worsened During Yoon Administration's 2 Years"
Won Hee-ryong: "What Have You Done for 2 Years... I Came to Work"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Won Hee-ryong, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, who are competing as candidates for Incheon Gyeyang-gu B, engaged in a fierce debate. In what was seen as a proxy battle between the ruling and opposition parties, Lee emphasized "judging the regime," while Won focused on "regional development."

The two candidates clashed over local issues during a debate broadcast on OBS Gyeongin TV on the night of the 2nd. The debate, organized by the Gyeyang-gu Election Broadcasting Debate Commission, was pre-recorded on the 1st. From the start, Lee criticized, "The economy has utterly collapsed, and peace on the Korean Peninsula is also in crisis," adding, "During the two years of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, South Korea has changed a lot, and all situations have worsened." He then raised his voice, saying, "Now it is time to judge," and "April 10 is not a day for competition between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party, but a war between the people and forces against the people."

The 22nd National Assembly election candidates for Incheon Gyeyang-eul, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea and Won Hee-ryong of the People Power Party, shake hands at a candidate debate held on the 1st at OBS Gyeongin TV in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Won Hee-ryong responded by focusing on the "region." He said, "For several months, I have been visiting every corner on foot, directly listening to the voices of Gyeyang residents and having many conversations," adding, "They unanimously said, 'What have Gyeyang politicians done in the past 25 years?' I have come to work."

The two candidates continued to clash on various issues. Regarding the low birthrate problem, Won pointed out, "Gyeyang-gu has the lowest birthrate in Incheon at 0.5%, and the stagnation of Gyeyang's development is the cause," and asked, "What have you done in the past two years, Lee Jae-myung?" Lee responded, "The birthrate is not an issue that can be easily solved at the basic local government level; it is a national task."

Lee also countered, "You say that the birthrate problem cannot be solved with money, but during the presidential candidate debate, you promised to provide 1 million won per month," and asked, "Is it okay when you do it, but not when other candidates or I do?" Won replied, "Rather than simply giving a few billion won, we are comprehensively preparing measures including housing, education, child-rearing, social advancement of our children, and job creation."

Regarding transportation pledges, a truth dispute arose with mentions of "false information disclosure." Won, who served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, criticized, "In the past two years, what institutional consultations have you promoted to solve transportation problems? I have never consulted with you," to which Lee replied, "I remember consulting with the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) about Gyeyang Technovalley and meeting with the Deputy Minister of Land and Representative Yoo Dong-soo (Incheon Gyeyang-gu Gap) regarding GTX." Won responded, "The minister is supposed to be fully briefed on such matters, but there has been no consultation with Representative Yoo or candidate Lee regarding the 3rd New Town and railroads," and pointed out, "You said Representative Yoo met the deputy minister, but haven't you already been indicted several times for false information disclosure?" Lee countered again, "I met and consulted at Representative Yoo's office, and it was probably reported somewhere."

The 22nd National Assembly election candidates for Incheon Gyeyang District, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea and Won Hee-ryong of the People Power Party, are participating in a candidate debate held on the 1st at OBS Gyeongin TV in Bucheon City, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

As Lee Jae-myung emphasized "judging the regime" and Won Hee-ryong promoted "regional development," their main pledges also showed clear differences.

Lee pledged to provide 1 million won per household through his symbolic policy of "local currency," claiming it would help maintain income, increase sales for small business owners, and ultimately boost government fiscal revenue. Won proposed connecting the Gyeyang area to subway lines 2 and 9, designating redevelopment, reconstruction, and maintenance promotion areas with 10 billion won in national funding, and designating pilot zones to reduce private education expenses.

During the introduction of these pledges, Won aggressively challenged, "Name just one district or apartment undergoing redevelopment or reconstruction in Gyeyang-gu," and Lee avoided answering. When Won pressed again, Lee responded with a tense remark, "You seem to have memorized them, but I am not someone who goes around memorizing specific apartment names."

Lee counterattacked on the "funding" issue. Criticizing Won's pledge for national funding for redevelopment and reconstruction, he said, "The government budget is so tight that even R&D (research and development) budgets are being cut. I wonder where the money would come from to provide 10 billion won to the Gyeyang area," and criticized, "Sweet talk is really not right." Won replied, "We can bring in special accounts and provide up to 10 billion won in national funding and 30 billion won in local matching funds, reducing residents' self-pay, and integrating redevelopment and reconstruction projects that were canceled 10 years ago to develop the station area."

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI) commissioned by CBS No Cut News from the 28th to 29th of last month targeting 503 men and women aged 18 or older residing in Incheon Gyeyang-gu B showed that 51.6% supported Lee Jae-myung. The proportion of respondents supporting Won Hee-ryong was 40.3%, indicating that Lee was ahead beyond the margin of error. (The survey was conducted 100% via wireless ARS, with a sampling error of ±4.4% at a 95% confidence level, and a response rate of 8.5%. For more details, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.)