By Bae Hyun-jung
While the liberal bloc gathered to select a unified mayoral candidate on Monday, Rep. Na Kyung-won of the ruling Grand National Party focused on communicating directly with voters and promoting her policy blueprints.
She pledged efforts to bridge the economic and cultural gap between the poor northern and posh southern districts, especially in terms of housing environment.
“I will consider easing reconstruction conditions for apartments in poor districts or old housings without earthquake-resistant facilities,” said Na on her visit to a residential area in a western district of Geumcheon.
“Northern districts, despite the high concentration of flats where low-income people live, are short on welfare facilities and security measures.”
Na suggested building Sunshine Centers where city-hired security guards are to be stationed.
She also promised to keep track of districts where the socially underprivileged reside and expand welfare investment in the areas.
Na attended an on-the-spot meeting with taxi drivers, whose requests included the reduction of subway operation hours and nighttime access to the central bus lanes.
“All suggestions will be reviewed, especially access to bus lanes in late-night hours,” Na said.
The ruling party candidate also visited a trail in Mount Gwanak to greet citizens and then a traditional market in the neighborhood to check on the prices of daily goods.
The GNP frontrunner showed a change in her previous policy stance in a bid to differentiate herself from former Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
“Seoul city debt rose by 7.9 trillion won ($6.7 billion) from 2006-2010, during which Oh took the mayoral post,” Na said on Sunday.
“I plan to repay 4 trillion won at a minimum by 2014 and halve the debt portion increased during the period.”
She also vowed to scale down costly construction plans, writing off some of the projects initiated by Oh.
“All ongoing projects will be reviewed from scratch,” she said.
Na also claimed that the city should expand its welfare programs such as childcare and education support.
These moves largely reflected her change of stance, as Na previously denounced full-scale free school meals and advocated Oh’s policies before her candidacy.
(tellme@heraldcorp.com)