Lawmaker’s key strategy in mayoral race is to challenge welfare issues


Now that she has clinched the Grand National Party’s nomination for Seoul mayor, Rep. Na Kyung-won closing in on Park Won-soon, the current frontrunner.

“The party shall hold its Supreme Council meeting late on Tuesday and confirm Rep. Na as the party’s candidate for the Seoul mayoral by-election,” the party spokesperson said Monday.

This followed the withdrawal of Rep. Kim Chung-whan, which left Na as the party’s sole candidate.

According to a public poll conducted for the daily Dong-A Ilbo, Na’s support rate soared to 44 percent, just behind Park’s 45.6 percent.

In a previous poll, Na had trailed Park by 16.3 percentage points, receiving 33.5 percent of the respondents’ votes.

She also moved well ahead of independent conservative candidate Lee Seog-yeon, leading 59.8 percent to 26.4 percent in a head-to-head matchup. Na and Lee are to compete to see who will represent the conservative camp in an internal election next week.

While regaining her previous popularity as mayoral candidate, Na also sought to promote her welfare policies, a critical issue which drove former Mayor Oh Se-hoon to resign. Her moves are also regarded as an effort to compete against Park, a civic group expert who has years of experience in liberal welfare activities.

“The city’s welfare levels vary greatly, depending on districts,” Na said. “A unified standard is required to regulate the related funds, such as childbirth incentives.”

Na, former member of the parliamentary culture committee, was suddenly moved to the welfare committee shortly after the mayoral by-election prelude kicked off last month.

The move was regarded as indicative of her resolve to challenge for the Seoul mayor post by strengthening her position on welfare issues.

“People are generally disturbed by the economic downturn, housing problems and ongoing inflation, and this will make the by-election difficult for the ruling party,” she said. “However, I believe voters will choose the right candidate who may contribute to the development and welfare of the city.”

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)