This election for Mayor of Namyangju City has really heated up, turning into a no-holds-barred slugfest between Joo Kwang-deok and Choi Hyun-deok. It’s like watching two seasoned boxers in the final round, trading blow for blow, each trying to land that knockout punch. Joo Kwang-deok, representing the People Power Party, and Choi Hyun-deok, from the Democratic Party, are embroiled in a deeply personal and politically charged dispute that’s now threatening to spill over into the courts. Joo’s campaign is not just defending itself against Choi’s accusations but is launching a vigorous counter-offensive, promising legal action and accusing Choi of outright deception. They’re making it clear: they won’t stand by while their candidate’s integrity is questioned, especially not on what they claim are baseless allegations. This isn’t just about policy differences anymore; it’s about reputation, perceived achievements, and who the voters believe has the true vision and capability to lead Namyangju.
The core of the dispute revolves around a few key claims made by Joo Kwang-deok and subsequently challenged by Choi Hyun-deok. One significant point of contention is a massive 3.3 trillion won investment deal. Choi’s camp had publicly questioned the authenticity of this deal, implying it might be more bluster than substance, specifically alleging that the land for the project hadn’t even been secured. Joo’s campaign fired back, almost immediately, with concrete evidence that not only was the land secured, but the nation’s top five banking groups had already inked a land contract worth over 120 billion won with LH back in December for a sprawling 9,300 pyeong. They argue that Choi’s claims are not just inaccurate but are a deliberate spread of “false information.” It’s like Choi accused Joo of faking an investment, and Joo pulled out the signed contract, saying, “See? Right here, in black and white.” They also pointed to the Maseok IDC project, stating that the project operator, Maseok IDC LLC, had already secured a land contract with the family association and obtained consent for a significant 14,670 pyeong site. These detailed rebuttals aim to dismantle Choi’s arguments piece by piece, painting him as someone who is either misinformed or intentionally misleading the public.
Beyond the investment figures, the campaign has delved into a contentious debate about who truly deserves credit for past achievements in Namyangju. Choi Hyun-deok had reportedly claimed credit for securing 450 billion won in development profits from Dasan New Town, citing a 2017 city council transcript. But Joo’s camp quickly countered, clarifying that the 2017 transcript merely highlighted the need to recoup development profits, not that the agreement was finalized then. They emphasized that the actual agreement to secure those 450 billion won only came to fruition in 2020, well after Choi had left his position. It’s akin to someone saying, “I suggested we should build a house,” and then later claiming, “I built that house,” even though the actual construction happened years after they moved away. This historical revisionism, they argue, is a blatant attempt by Choi to appropriate the achievements of others for his own political gain. They’re essentially saying, “You can’t claim credit for something that happened because of other people, after you were gone.”
The squabble over credit didn’t stop there. The Jeong Yak-yong Library also became a battleground for bragging rights. Choi had seemingly taken credit for its construction, but Joo’s campaign meticulously disproved this, revealing that the library project had already been approved for 28 billion won in construction support as early as 2016. This was before Choi’s appointment as Deputy Mayor of Namyangju. The implication is clear: Choi is simply “repackaging the achievements of others as his own,” a common political tactic but one that Joo’s camp is determined to expose. It’s like a new manager taking credit for a project that was already fully planned and funded by their predecessor before they even walked through the door. This isn’t about leadership or innovation, they argue, but about opportunism and a lack of original contributions.
The “Pangyo Techno Valley” claim perhaps stung Joo’s camp the most. During a TV debate, Choi proudly stated his “experience in making Pangyo Techno Valley a success.” Joo’s campaign vehemently dismissed this as an overstatement, almost an act of historical erasure. They laid out the timeline: Pangyo Techno Valley was a massive, collaborative effort spanning multiple administrations, initiated by Governor Lim Chang-yeol, developed under Governor Sohn Hak-kyu, and continued to flourish under Governor Kim Moon-soo. They point out that Choi’s role as economic policy chief from January 2014 was limited to some “practical work” or “operational matters.” To claim such a monumental and multi-faceted achievement as a personal one is not only misleading but, according to Joo’s camp, “disregards the contributions of all public officials in Gyeonggi Province.” It’s like an assistant claiming they single-handedly built an entire skyscraper when they were only responsible for managing the mailroom for a few months during its construction. This isn’t just an exaggeration; it’s a profound disrespect to the countless individuals who genuinely contributed to the success of Pangyo Techno Valley.
The Joo Kwang-deok campaign wrapped up their fiery statement with a challenge and a threat. They dared Choi Hyun-deok to name even “a single result on his own during his 11 months as Deputy Mayor of Namyangju,” separate from the achievements of previous governors and mayors. This challenge was aimed directly at Choi’s credibility, questioning whether he genuinely brought any unique value or accomplishments to the city. Furthermore, they firmly rejected Choi’s camp’s demand to “remove banners and drop legal complaints by midnight on the 26th.” Instead, they issued a stark warning: they would no longer tolerate what they perceive as “spreading fake news and disrupting the election without even checking the most basic facts.” They vowed to immediately file “strong criminal complaints against Choi Hyun-deok for dissemination of false information and false accusation,” ensuring he faces severe judicial consequences. It’s a declaration of war, signaling that they are prepared to fight this battle not just in the court of public opinion, but in an actual court of law, demonstrating their absolute resolve to protect their candidate’s name and the integrity of the election process.