Translation result
At the Democratic Party’s first debate since the mayoral primary on the 31st, the three candidates focused intense scrutiny on former Seongdong District Mayor Jeong Won-o, who has been singled out as the so-called “Myeong pick” (President Lee Jae-myung’s selection).
The special “100-Minute Debate” at MBC’s new Sangam-dong headquarters in Mapo District featured preliminary mayoral candidates Jeon Hyun-hee, Park Ju-min and Jeong Won-o, listed in ballot order.
Park took the initiative early and aimed her opening salvo at Jeong.
She criticized Jeong’s platform, which relies on artificial intelligence for public safety, welfare and permitting, arguing that Seoul needs a dedicated AI computing infrastructure. “What’s your plan for GPUs and other necessary hardware?” she asked.
Jeong responded that the national government has already agreed to purchase GPUs and that his plan would leverage those government procurements.
Park rebutted, noting that of the 50,000 GPUs the government has secured, only about 10,000 were earmarked for public agencies, creating competition among ministries at more than a 10-to-1 ratio. “The government’s resources aren’t that abundant,” she said.
She then pressed Jeong on electricity supply concerns related to large-scale computing.
Jeong acknowledged Seoul cannot currently produce industrial-scale power on its own. He said the city should instead focus on generating household-level energy locally and stressed the need to expand residential solar capacity.
Pointing to past problems with rooftop solar, particularly maintenance, he proposed a subscription-based solar model. “Citizens should be able to use it without inconvenience,” he said.
Park also attacked Jeong over his past praise for Mayor Oh’s public stance opposing the emergency martial law declared by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. She pointed out that Mayor Oh posted a video suggesting the Democratic Party bore responsibility for the unrest and asked whether Jeong’s expression of thanks was appropriate.
Jeong pushed back, saying he had thanked Mayor Oh specifically for speaking out against the martial law immediately after it was declared. He added that he now opposes Mayor Oh because Oh has not fully broken ties with former President Yoon.
Jeong reiterated that when asked at one point about something Mayor Oh had done well, he cited Oh’s same-day opposition to martial law as an example.
Jeon Hyun-hee also used her time to target Jeong’s proposals.
She dismissed Jeong’s plan for so-called “practical apartments” as unrealistic and unlikely to be delivered within a single mayoral term.
Jeong replied that the plan was feasible and that the city should build what the public needs. Jeon countered that reconstruction and redevelopment typically take more than ten years and pressed whether such projects could realistically be completed within one term.
Jeong said residents could be relocated during development, emphasizing that it was possible to carry out the projects.
Jeon also criticized Jeong’s transportation pledge—shared offices near homes, a five-minute walk to a bus stop and a 10-minute walk to a subway station—calling it appealing in theory but hollow in practice. She argued that overhauling bus routes to guarantee a five-minute stop in front of every home would be difficult.
Jeong provided a detailed response: he would comprehensively redesign major bus routes, restructure connecting neighborhood bus services, and, where those measures fall short, deploy public micro-shuttles to ensure residents can reach their doors within five minutes.
When moderators repeatedly cut off Jeong’s remarks, the host intervened, insisting that Jeong be guaranteed 30 seconds to speak.
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