Rep. Park Young-sun of the main opposition Democratic Party and civil activist Park Won-soon, who are to compete Monday for the liberal bloc’s unified candidacy for Seoul mayor, took part in heated debates on Friday.

Both Parks attended the official televised open forum, following Professor Sohn Seok-hee’s radio debate show in the morning.

The left-wing camp’s unified candidacy is to be decided by a general public poll, a jury decision after the forum and a spot poll on Monday.

Rep. Park placed more focus on policy issues and slammed her rival’s ideas in the hopes of gaining ground in the public polls, where the activist is still leading.

The other Park used the opportunity to urge the voters to participate in the polls, as the DP lawmaker is expected to enjoy her party’s support in Monday’s race.

Choi Kyu-yeop, candidate of the minority Democratic Labor Party, underlined the party’s welfare policies, including free environment-friendly meals at schools.

During the forum, Rep. Park mostly attacked Park Won-soon on the allegations that he received funds from conglomerates.

“I have always cried out for conglomerate reforms, ever since I worked as reporter, but Park enjoyed financial support from them during his civic activist years,” said the lawmaker.

“Also, I was baffled by the fact that he engaged President Lee Myung-bak as his foundation’s honorary adviser and referred to him as a great man.”

The lawyer Park said that he contributed to civic movements by establishing the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and promoting the rights of minority shareholders.

During the radio forum earlier in the day, the two candidates clashed over the role of the DP.

“The past 10 years under two ruling-party mayors has greatly corrupted the metropolitan government,” said Rep. Park. “A policy expert is required to cut out the defects and heal the troubles of the current administration.”

Park Won-soon, however, countered by saying that the DP’s support rate would not be sufficient to defeat the ruling Grand National Party in the by-elections.

Both argued over their respective approval rating. The DP lawmaker claimed that she had caught up with her rival within the margin of error, which the activist denied.

Rep. Park urged her rival to look back on his initial rate of support, before Seoul National University professor Ahn Cheol-soo passed on the race and threw his support behind Park Won-soon.

“I believe that there still is a 15 percent gap between us,” the lawyer said. “Also, these digits are not just mathematical figures but a reflection of the people’s strong hope for change.”

The fact that the Park Won-soon’s election funds reached 3.9 billion won ($3.3 million) in less than three days also exemplified the public’s yearning, he said.

Rep. Park also slammed the lawyer on his policy visions.

“Park pledged to create 1,000 new jobs and to allocate 1 trillion won to venture firms, but the mayor’s role is not about experiments based on mere ideals,” she said.

Park Won-soon said that his ideas had resulted in actual profits in the past, saying the Beautiful Foundation, a flagship charity organization which he chairs, had raised 25 billion won through its donated goods sales.

Both Parks accepted the idea of taking the post of election committee chairman for the winner following Monday’s race.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)