Seoul mayor's blasts politicians for using populism to win votes

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details, comments throughout; RECASTS headline) SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon criticized politicians Thursday for trying to indiscriminately expand welfare benefits to win votes, claiming that the upcoming referendum on free school lunch can end such practice. Speaking at a forum at the National Assembly, Oh denounced politicians who support excessive welfare for people, calling them advocates of "reckless welfare populism". "Responsible political leaders must ask the public and government to not waste money, but some have resorted to calling for more and more welfare outlays," he said, adding that such calls usually become more vocal ahead of major elections. South Korea will hold a general election to pick lawmakers and its next president in 2011. Oh's political future is at stake in the Aug. 24 referendum on how wide the free school lunch program should be expanded. The opposition-controlled city council supports a full-scale free lunch program for all primary school children but Oh insists that it be expanded gradually. In Thursday's speech, Oh said the upcoming referendum should send a clear message to populist politicians. Aides said the major will hold a special news conference on Friday to announce his future course of action. In an interview with Yonhap News Agency earlier in the day, Oh said he has not made up his mind about his future, although expressing optimism that the referendum will "put a wedge of competitive populism between the ruling and opposition parties" that have recklessly put forward a series of costly proposals to woo voters. "Opposition parties have not awakened from the illusion that they can grab power by using the 'universal welfare' frame. Only voters can stop this," Oh claimed. Political analysts, meanwhile, speculated that the upcoming vote could determine the political fate of Oh, who is widely viewed as having grander political ambitions beyond the post of Seoul mayor. If the vote fails to draw enough voters or if citizens support the universal free-lunch-for-all program, it would be a blow to Oh, who still has three years left in his second term. On the other hand, if the results are in his favor, it would serve as a boon for his political ambitions and could thrust him into a champion of voters who are weary of pushing for excessive welfare outlays. Oh has repeatedly said South Korea is at a crossroads between "excessive welfare" and "sustainable welfare." Since South Korea adopted residents' referendums in 2004, local governments have held only three polls to reflect public opinion on administrative affairs.