(Yonhap Editorial) Wise selection by Seoul citizens required in mayoral election

SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) -- With only one day remaining before the start of the official election campaign for the Seoul mayoral election, negative propaganda and personal attacks are feared to be rampant between the two rival camps.
Both Rep. Na Kyung-won of the ruling Grand National Party and Park Won-soon who is running as a single candidate from the opposition parties and civic organizations have vowed to make fair electioneering and to exert efforts to compete with policy suggestions.
However, they seem to be transitioning into negative campaigning.
Na's camp started the competition by raising the questions on the exemption of military service by Park and his ideological tendencies. Park's side countered with attacks on Na's accumulation of wealth and her remarks in the past.
Hong Joon-pyo, chairman of the GNP, said he is worried if Park will run the Seoul mayoral post with his left-leaning view on the state and security.
A spokesman for Na's camp raised suspicion that Park made false statements on his school record. Other GNP lawmakers also attacked Park as "a candidate full of suspicions regarding his educational and social careers."
The opposition camp also made a flurry of offensives against Na. A spokesman of the Park's election camp criticized that Na, as a lawmaker, is making absurd remarks on her gaining windfall profits from selling a commercial building she had bought.
He also claimed that Na opposed the enactment of a law on private schools because her father owned a private school.
In past elections, the ruling and opposition parties have vowed to make fair and clean election campaigns before the official campaign period began, but their promises have usually ended up as hogwash when the election campaign kicks into full swing.
In particular, whenever campaigns enter the final stage and rival candidates are neck-and-neck, personal attacks and negative propaganda have become rampant.
The competition of releasing policy measures between Na and Park is becoming heated, but their pledges lack how to fund various plans in their rosy blue prints.
It would be most desirable for the two camps to stop any mudslinging, which will only bring forth mistrust in politics.
The two candidates should realize that effectively communicating policy positions is the only way to appeal to the voters.
However, it would be difficult to expect them to change under the current politics. So the citizens of Seoul should not forget that the essence of the election is to pick a candidate who will do the best job for the citizens and the city. Therefore the voters should thoroughly examine the policy visions and the personal qualifications of the candidates.
The voters also should closely check if candidates are making any irresponsible election pledges that will burden them in the future. This election, more so than previous ones, calls for prudence and positive participation.
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