By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
The Seoul mayor's remarks that he has no plan to designate additional districts for the New Town Project prompted major parties to engage in bickering over what the opposition called an ``empty campaign pledge.''
Leaders of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) accused the governing party and Mayor Oh Se-hoon of misleading voters to wrongly select parliamentary candidates in the April 9 elections.
The governing Grand National Party (GNP) countered the criticism, claiming the UDP's reaction was politically motivated.
GNP spokeswoman Cho Yoon-seon said GNP lawmakers-elect, who vowed to do their best to help their districts be chosen as urban redevelopment sites should not be attacked, as a few UDP candidates also committed to do the same.
The project is an urban redevelopment, ``beautification'' plan devised by the Seoul City government aimed at building an eco- and dweller-friendly community since 2002.
The local government designated three districts ― Eunpyeong, Seongbuk and Seongdong ― in 2002 as pilot project sites and 12 and 11 more districts were set aside for the purpose in 2003 and 2005, respectively.
Mayor Oh made it clear on Monday that the city had no plan to designate additional sites for the time being as this could raise property prices in the areas.
The mayor's announcement has ignited opposition party leaders who felt several of their candidates lost dead-heat races in the elections mainly due to the GNP candidates' New Town pledge.
UDP floor leader Kim Hyo-seuk called their commitments a ``public lie.''
GNP lawmaker Chung Mong-joon, who won the Dongjak race, wooed local voters by claiming the mayor promised him to set aside Dongjak for a New Town site during the campaign.
His rival UDP Chung Dong-young sued the GNP lawmaker for the alleged spreading of false information.
``We plan to file legal action against GNP winners who pledged to develop New Towns in their districts,'' the floor leader said.
UDP lawmaker Choi Jae-sung joined the move, arguing that Oh helped then GNP candidates by keeping silent during the campaign.
``The redevelopment project is under the auspicious of the mayor, not lawmakers,'' he said. ``As Oh was silent when GNP candidates sent the misleading message in an effort to woo voters, he is responsible for the election results.''
The GNP claimed that several UDP candidates also made the commitment in the elections and therefore it is not fair to say the GNP winners should solely be held accountable.
As for Oh's public announcement of no further site-designations in Seoul, GNP spokeswoman Cho commented that Oh was being consistent in his stance on the urban beautification project.