With the June 3 local elections ahead, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Chun Jae-soo and People Power Party candidate Park Heong-joon clashed over allegations of "cash and valuables from the Unification Church" during a Busan mayoral TV debate held on the 12th.
At the debate hosted by Busan MBC that day, the two candidates devoted the entirety of the second debate—more than 10 minutes of the third initiative round held on a "free topic"—to a battle over the truth directed at the other candidate.
Starting the debate, Park said, "Former U.S. President Richard Nixon, who resigned over Watergate, stepped down not because of wiretapping but because of lies." He then repeatedly asked, "Can you clearly answer that you did not receive a Cartier watch?"
Park went on, "An investigation found that a Cartier watch from (the Unification Church's) Cheonjeonggung is in the possession of Chun Jae-soo's closest friend." He pressed, "Looking at the circumstances of evidence destruction by Chun's aide is truly shocking. Not only was a hard disk smashed with a hammer, it was thrown away in a field."
In response, Chun said, "I sincerely apologize to the citizens of Busan for finding myself at the center of controversy," adding, "For the past four months, I have undergone an intensive investigation by the joint police-prosecution task force."
Park said, "You were investigated, and it was only cleared as 'no right to indict,' but the prosecution's press release says there are circumstances that raise suspicion you received a Cartier watch." He continued, "Isn't the reason you can't answer because you're worried it might constitute the publication of false information?"
Chun responded, "Is there anything in the investigation results that says I received it?" and countered, "Engaging in negative smear tactics and trying to slap on a frame during this precious time won't bring votes."
The two also sparred over alleged "preferential sales at LCT."
Aimed at Park, Chun said, "You promised citizens you would sell LCT, but you didn't sell it even after five years," adding, "Because LCT is entangled with broker preferential sales, you said you would sell it but did not."
Park replied, "I think it's regrettable that I couldn't keep what I declared," adding, "I never said by when I would sell it, but I became a kind of jeonse fraud victim and couldn't move, so I'm saying I couldn't sell."
The two candidates also continued a policy contest on Busan's economic growth and job creation.
Chun said, "For 30 years, young people and jobs have left, corporations have departed, and the self-employed have collapsed, leaving Busan stagnant," adding, "To end the long slump, I will build a maritime capital."
He added, "To do that, we will transfer the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) and its affiliated public institutions and open a maritime specialized court in Busan," and said, "We must cluster the headquarters of major shipping corporations, including HMM, in Busan and create a 50 trillion won Southeast Investment Corporation."
Park emphasized continuity in city administration. Park said, "Over the past five years, the amount of investment attraction has increased 28 times compared with 2020, and the youth employment rate and the growth rate of regular workers have ranked No. 1 nationwide, making the change clear," adding, "The unemployment rate is the lowest in the country, and overseas tourists surpassed a record 24%."
He continued, "To build a maritime artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Busan, we will establish port and logistics data so that medium-sized and small manufacturing corporations in Busan can innovate their technology," adding, "Like the Rise system, which Busan implemented first and then scaled nationwide, we will nurture AI talent."