Opposition candidate for Seoul mayor holds massive rallies

Park Won-soon, the opposition camp`s candidate for Seoul mayor, held large-scale campaign rallies in Seoul on Sunday with campaign committee members including main opposition Democratic Party leader Sohn Hak-kyu.

Canvassing near Kkachisan subway station in western Seoul, Park blasted the Lee Myung-bak administration for spending 22 trillion won (17.39 billion U.S. dollars) on the four-river development project. He pledged to become “the first welfare mayor” in Seoul’s history by expanding free school lunches and childcare facilities rather than carrying out large construction projects.

Park held a large rally at Gwanghwamun Square with Moon Jae-in, co-chairman of the candidate’s campaign committee, and other supporters on Saturday and held another at the same place Sunday afternoon. Woo Sang-ho, a spokesman for Park’s camp, claimed that some 15,000 people attended Saturday`s rally, the largest number in recent years for an election other than for president.

Park’s camp continued its severe criticism of his rival, Na Kyung-won of the ruling Grand National Party. In a news briefing at the National Assembly, Woo blasted Na for earning 1.3 billion won (1.13 million dollars) from real estate speculation, saying the mayoral election is a confrontation between a “princess enjoying a luxurious lifestyle” and a “citizen candidate with a life of donations.”

Citing suspicions surrounding Na including her alleged expensive skin care at a members-only clinic, Woo asked if she can bring change to a city administration that stresses showy projects and if she can implement new policies since she “copied” her policies from those of the previous mayor, Oh Se-hoon.

A spokeswoman for Park’s camp also criticized Na’s land development pledge, dismissing it as another “new town” project that failed amid a depressed property market.

Democratic Party spokesman Lee Yong-sup also attacked Na, referring to her expensive diamond ring and the skin care scandal. “How can she, who speaks for the top 1-percent privileged class, understand the pain of university students working day and night to make money for tuition?” he said.

Park and his supporters also reacted sensitively to rumors on Twitter that a securities company will conduct a training program for its employees from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Voting closes at 8 p.m.

“It is true?” Park asked on Twitter.

Another Twitter user commented, “The company must have decided to shut down.”

With the controversy spreading, the brokerage postponed the training. A company source said the program is about an investor relations session that ends at 5:30 p.m., adding that the company rescheduled the program to prevent unnecessary controversy.

ddr@donga.com