DP candidate for Seoul mayor pledges to turn Seoul into global city 'comparable to New York'

Chong Won-o, the ruling Democratic Party (DP)'s candidate for Seoul mayor in the June 3 local elections, stressed he plans to turn Seoul into a global city comparable to New York that can be the "economic and cultural capital of Asia" on Thursday.

Chong pledged to build Seoul into a "global G2 city" that can "play a central role in Asia comparable to New York," surpassing Tokyo, Shanghai and Singapore, in a forum organized by the Korea News Editors Association at the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in central Seoul.

"To achieve this, we will bring the UN AI Hub to Seoul," Chong said, adding that this would enable "Seoul to become the gateway to Korea, allowing global companies, capital and talent to flow into the city and spread that influence throughout the nation."  

He said he envisions a city that can compete globally while creating jobs for youths.  

Chong also pledged to usher in an era of 30 million overseas tourists, aligning with the Lee Jae Myung administration's vision.  

He envisions attracting global companies by establishing four special zones in Yongsan, Hongneung, Yangjae and Guro-Gasan. In addition to Seoul's three major downtown areas of Gwanghwamun, Gangnam and Yeouido, he plans to create two innovation downtown areas in Cheongnyangni-Wangsimni and Sinchon-Hongdae.

Chong plans to develop Yongsan into a global AI and finance hub by bringing the "UN AI Hub" to the Yongsan International Business District in central Seoul, and by promising deregulation and corporate tax benefits to attract global companies and talent.

He wants to revive the Guro-Gasan digital complex as the "core of the physical AI demonstration economy" with its industrial infrastructure, including robotics, manufacturing and logistics and connect it with AI research capabilities established in Yangjae to build a "Seoul-style physical AI ecosystem."

Transforming Seoul into an economic and cultural center aligns with Lee Jae Myung's plan to decentralize the metropolitan area and shift more administrative duties to Sejong.  

Chong, a former three-term Seongdong District Office head who enjoyed popularity in his district, was a dark-horse candidate who secured his party's nomination on April 6, beating seasoned DP lawmakers.  

Chong entered politics in 2000 as a lawmaker's aide and was elected as Seongdong District's head in the 2014 local elections, serving in the post for 12 years before stepping down in March to enter the Seoul mayoral race. Seongdong, in eastern Seoul, is home to urban youth hot spot Seongsu-dong.  

Chong called for a "focus on increasing profitability" regarding housing improvement, redevelopment and reconstruction projects.  

"When the real estate market is good, redevelopment and reconstruction become active and [housing] supply increases, but when the real estate market is bad, supply decreases," he said.  

He said while there are times when "business viability must be prioritized," the city "must operate flexibly to enhance public interest" when there is a need to adjust housing supply.

Chong also addressed the controversy surrounding a 1995 assault raised by a People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker.

PPP Rep. Kim Jae-sub on Wednesday claimed that the assault ensued after the owner of a drinking establishment rejected Chong's demand to spend the night with a female employee.

Chong claimed the incident stemmed from a dispute with the establishment's owner over "differing perspectives" of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement of 1980.

Chong said Kim's claims are "false and manipulated."

"I understand what they hope to gain through fabrication, but what they will likely face is the judgment of the law," Chong said, adding that legal measures are being taken.  

The PPP on Thursday released additional audio recordings of the victim, allegedly from the time of the assault incident, that apparently contradicted Chong's explanation.  

Chong, during the forum, cited court rulings and media reports from the time, maintaining his original stance and calling out the PPP for "distorted negative campaigning."

Regarding the victim's claim of never receiving an apology, Chong said he "clearly" apologized, but so much time has passed that the victim may not remember. "I apologize once again," he said.  

Chong also criticized the "Garden of Gratitude" memorial honoring the 22 nations that fought on the South Korean side in the 1950-53 Korean War at Gwanghwamun Square. The memorial, a project pushed by Oh, was opened on Tuesday, and Chong said the structure had closed off the public plaza and could be seen as a "waste of taxpayers' money" by citizens.

The memorial pays tribute to veterans of the Korean War.  

If elected, Chong said he would consider relocating the memorial to the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District and transforming the surrounding space into an exhibition space celebrating King Sejong and hangul, the Korean alphabet, after seeking public opinion.

Chong also hinted at the possibility of scrapping Hangang Bus ferry service, Seoul Mayor Oh's pet project. 

"If it isn't safe due to various issues, we will need to make a significant decision," Chong said.  

He said the ferry project is basically for tourism rather than a mode of transportation as originally envisioned, and should be repurposed or — if deemed unsafe — even abolished.  

Chong, who jumped into the Seoul mayoral race earlier as the DP's candidate, has led in opinion polls, though his PPP rival Oh has narrowed a double-digit gap in recent days. 

The forum was attended by editors and executives from newspapers, broadcasters and news agencies ahead of the June 3 local elections.

The association hosted a separate session with Oh later Thursday, the first day of official candidate registration.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]