Debate Follows 'Speaking Rights' Tensions: What Are the Solutions for 'Expanding Supply'?

[Anchor]

During yesterday's (July 14) Cabinet meeting, where real estate policy was a key focus, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attempted to explain the city's housing supply policy but was not granted the opportunity to speak. The government will hold further discussions today and tomorrow, leading up to a major debate presided over by the President next Thursday to discuss the direction of real estate policy.

Reporter Lee Seong-hoon has the story.

[Reporter]

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended the Cabinet meeting for the first time since the local elections.

He requested to speak to explain Seoul's housing supply plans, but Prime Minister Han Sung-sook put a stop to it.

[Oh Se-hoon/Mayor of Seoul: Prime Minister, may I have a word, please?]

[Han Sung-sook/Prime Minister: Since we have the National Grand Debate on this matter, I would prefer to move on to the next item.]

Unable to secure a chance to speak, Mayor Oh expressed his regret and submitted a report containing proposals such as revitalizing reconstruction and redevelopment projects and easing regulations on relocation expense loans. The Blue House stated that it would review the report thoroughly.

A few hours later, at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's first real estate debate, various opinions were presented regarding solutions for housing supply.

From the field of urban maintenance projects, there were demands to first lift regulations on relocation expense loans.

[Kim Myung-hee/Chair of the Resident Representative Council for Singil District 2, Yeongdeungpo-gu: There are no financial institutions willing to provide relocation expense loans, leaving many project sites at risk of delayed relocation. It is contradictory to talk about rapid supply while blocking the very funding necessary for projects to proceed.]

Suggestions were also made that easing loan and guarantee regulations for non-apartment housing, such as officetels and villas, would help increase supply.

Opinions were divided regarding the operation of regulated areas and land transaction permit zones.

[Kim Hyo-sun/Chief Real Estate Specialist at KB Kookmin Bank: Since it is difficult to sell a property without evicting the existing tenant, this situation is causing a gradual decrease in the supply of jeonse listings for older properties as well.]

[Choi Eun-young/Director of the Korea Center for City and Environment Research: What happened when the Seoul Metropolitan Government lifted land transaction permit zones in February 2025? Any changes must be made with full consideration of potential side effects.]

Voices were also raised emphasizing that tenant protection should be at the center of housing policy, given that 8 out of 10 young people are tenants.

The government plans to hold consecutive debates on finance and taxation today and tomorrow, and will also collect opinions online.

Based on these discussions, the government intends to deliberate on a policy direction encompassing supply, finance, and taxation at the major real estate debate presided over by the President on July 23.

(Video reporting: Jung Sang-bo, Video editing: Jung Yong-hwa)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.