Chong Won-o, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, talks with Standing Co-Chair Seo Young-kyo during the 3rd election committee meeting at his campaign office in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 19th./Courtesy of News1

The Democratic Party of Korea again raised allegations that the creation of the "Garden of Gratitude" is linked to the Unification Church.

At the third meeting of the election committee for Seoul mayoral candidate Chong Won-o of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 19th, Rep. Seo Young-kyo targeted company A, selected as the contractor for the "Garden of Gratitude," and raised allegations of ties to the Unification Church.

Rep. Seo Young-kyo said, "Company A won the bid for (construction of the Garden of Gratitude) and made the stone pillars," adding, "When I searched on Naver, the founders were Moon Sun-myung and Han Hak-ja."

She also raised issues with the appropriateness of the bidding process. Seo said, "Originally, two companies bid (for the Garden of Gratitude), but instead of the company that submitted a bid price of 2.9 billion won, company A, which submitted a bid price of 3.9 billion won, won the contract."

She then asked, "What relationship does candidate Oh Se-hoon have with company A?"

Earlier, on the 17th, Seo held a press conference at the National Assembly communication center and raised the allegations once. Seo said, "Company A, in which the Unification Church is a major shareholder, created the Garden of Gratitude." At the time, Seo's side also released a business report showing that the Unification Church holds 41% equity in company A.

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, said of the allegations, "From what I hear, that company is the most experienced in that type of construction work in Korea."

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