Jo Jeon-hyeok "Weekend Farm Land Limit Exceeded in Iksan"
Raises Issues on Children's Overseas Study and Foreign Language High School Admission
Jeong Geun-sik "Children Attended Ordinary Schools"
Jo "Excessive Digital Usage", Jeong "First Life Vote"
Ahead of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent by-election scheduled for the 16th, a slander battle broke out between the candidates. Candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok raised suspicions that the farmland he owns in Iksan, Jeonbuk, may be in violation of the Farmland Act, targeting candidate Jeong Geun-sik.
On the morning of the 14th, Jo held an emergency press conference in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and said, "Candidate Jeong should stop making false explanations and reveal the truth."
He pointed out, "How did candidate Jeong become an agricultural household head?" and noted that the land he owns in Iksan, Jeonbuk, exceeds the 1,000㎡ limit for weekend farm farmland. He also demanded that Jeong clarify whether he is directly farming the land. According to the current Farmland Act, farmland cannot be owned unless it is used for one's own agricultural management or by someone who will use it.
He then mentioned suspicions of tax evasion by Jeong's children and asked for an explanation as to whether the documents submitted during the disclosure of assets by high-ranking public officials matched the actual income details of the children. He also questioned Jeong, who pledged to inherit and develop innovative schools, asking if this contradicts the fact that his children studied abroad in the U.S. and attended foreign language high schools.
In response, candidate Jeong issued a statement saying, "It is true that candidate Jeong is farming on a 150-pyeong weekend farm in Yongin," and explained, "Candidate Jeong's daughter and son graduated from ordinary elementary, middle, and high schools in Korea, not autonomous private high schools or specialized high schools."
He added, "Candidate Jeong's election campaign committee will take firm action against indiscriminate slanderous negative attacks to ensure a fair election," and countered, "Conservative media and candidate Jo, who have been making one-sided and unfair reports without properly verifying the facts, must take full responsibility."
On the same day, both candidates also engaged in policy activities related to youth. Candidate Jeong visited Samgaksan High School in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, in the morning to conduct a 'First-Time Voting Campaign.' He stated, "The experience of voting for the first time is not just about casting a single vote but is akin to a coming-of-age ceremony that signifies being a member of society as a democratic citizen. We will change the educational environment so that you can nurture your dreams and grow at school with everyone's expectations."
Candidate Jo announced that he would promote education to prevent excessive digital use and consider establishing a task force (TF) to eradicate illegal gambling among youth. He emphasized, "We will prepare comprehensive measures from preventing illegal gambling among youth to healing."
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