Shin Sangjin's Campaign Launches Fierce Attack: "Kim Byungwook's Political Networking and Makeshift Pledges Exposed in TV Debate"

Aftermath of Seongnam Mayoral Debate
Shin Sangjin's Camp: "Seongnam Metro Pledge Is an Unrealistic False Hope"
Criticism of Kim Byungwook: "All Talk, No Administrative Understanding"

The election campaign committee for Shin Sangjin, the People Power Party candidate for Seongnam mayor, has intensified its offensive against Democratic Party candidate Kim Byungwook, using the TV debate as a springboard. The committee focused its criticism on the feasibility of Kim's pledges and his integrity, describing his campaign as "empty rhetoric relying on political connections."

Democratic Party candidate Byungwook Kim (right) and People Power Party candidate Sangjin Shin, mayoral candidate for Seongnam, are holding a TV debate for the election committee. Photo provided by Sangjin Shin

On May 27, the spokesperson for Shin Sangjin's campaign committee stated in a commentary, "The TV debate for Seongnam mayoral candidates held on May 26 clearly demonstrated what qualities are required to lead Seongnam." The spokesperson claimed, "On one side was a politician who intends to govern the city through personal connections, and on the other was an administrative expert who has maintained Seongnam's pride through honest achievements."

The committee particularly took issue with Kim's remarks during the debate, such as "I will use the president" and "We should also take advantage of the government and Gyeonggi Province." The spokesperson emphasized, "Seongnam City's administration, with a budget of 4 trillion won, cannot be run through private networks or lobbying," adding, "Packaging the relationship with the central government as a mayor's competence essentially denies the very reason for local autonomy."

The committee also strongly criticized Kim's signature pledge to introduce Seongnam Metro Lines 1 and 2. They argued, "The Gyeonggi Province urban rail network construction plan has already been officially announced, making a 2030 groundbreaking realistically impossible," and described the pledge as "a typical makeshift promise lacking administrative procedures and legal basis."

Additionally, the committee referenced Kim's previous general election pledge to extend the Shinbundang Line to Gwanghwamun, criticizing it as "a project with a benefit-cost ratio (B/C) of 0.36 that failed to pass even the preliminary feasibility study," and asserted, "Once again, he is offering citizens false hope with a pledge that is unlikely to be realized."

The committee also highlighted Shin Sangjin's achievement of "zero debt" in city administration. The spokesperson commented, "Securing the fiscal soundness of the city is essential to stably allocate large-scale infrastructure budgets for the reconstruction of Bundang and redevelopment of the original downtown," and evaluated, "The achievement of the eighth popularly elected administration has transformed Seongnam's finances into one of the soundest among South Korean cities."

They also pointed to controversies surrounding Kim's past conviction for assaulting a police officer and issues related to his children's assets, saying, "He has failed to properly respond to verification demands directly linked to voters' right to know, only dismissing them as personal attacks."

The committee concluded, "What Seongnam citizens want from their mayor is not eloquence, but sincerity, dignity, and the ability to fulfill promises," adding, "This debate has provided citizens with an opportunity to judge for themselves who is the most qualified to take responsibility for Seongnam's future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.